NO. 143 March 2012

ABN 571625138800 March 2012 Meeting

Michael McCarthy, Nonja Peters & Sue Summers The flying boats of Roebuck Bay - March 1942.

A Dutch crew from a visiting Dornier Do 24 flying boat in Roebuck Bay being taken into Broome by launch in 1941.

[Australian War Memorial collection No. 044613]

To be held on Tuesday 13 March 2012 at 5.00pm for 5.30pm in the Great Southern Room, 4th floor State Library of Western Australia. Please see details on Page 3 Objectives The objectives of the Friends of Battye Library (Inc.) are to assist and pro- mote the interests of the J S Battye Library of West Australian History and the State Records Office, and of those activities of the Library Board of Western Australia concerned with the acquisition, preservation and use of archival and documentary materials.

Patron Mrs Ruth Reid AM Emeritus President Professor Geoffrey Bolton AO Committee (2011-2012) President Dr Pamela Statham Drew Vice President Mrs Gillian O’Mara Secretary position vacant Treasurer Mr Nick Drew Committee members Mr Graham Bown, Ms Jennie Carter, Dr Alison Gregg, Mr Jim Gregg, Mr Robert O’Connor QC, Mr Lindsay Peet, Dr Nonja Peters, and Ms Sue Summers.

Ex-Officio Mrs Margaret Allen (CEO & State Librarian) Ms Cathrin Cassarchis (State Archivist, SRO) Dr Sarah McQuade (Battye Historian)

Newsletter editor Ms Jennie Carter

Volunteers Ring (08) 9427 3266 or email: [email protected]

All correspondence to: The Secretary, PO Box 216, Northbridge WA 6865

ISSN 1035-8692

Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Friends of Battye Library Committee, the State Library of WA, or the State Records Office. Membership Subscription (from 1 July to 30 June - GST inclusive)

Life membership $500

Annual membership Ordinary $25 Joint $35 Pensioner / student / junior $15 Corporate $50

Meetings General meetings are held each year in March, May, July, August or September (whenever is the Annual General Meeting) and November (also the end of year function). These are held at the State Library of Western Australia and usually begin at 5.00 pm for 5.30 pm and conclude before 7.00 pm.

Newsletter Published three times per year - March, July, and November (flyers will be sent out in May and September). Articles from members and supporters are very welcome and the deadline for copy for the newsletter is 10 February, 10 June, and 10 October each year. The editor reserves the right to accept or reject articles and notices for publication.

Contact details Friends of Battye Library website: http://www.friendsofbattyelibrary.org.au For comments, more information, membership forms, a copy of the Friends of Battye Library (Inc) Constitution, or to send articles and notices for the newsletter, please contact: The editor, Jennie Carter at [email protected] or write to: The President Friends of Battye Library (Inc) P O Box 216 Northbridge WA 6865 J S Battye Library of West Australian History Opening hours Mon/Thurs 9.00 am - 8.00 pm Friday 9.00 am - 5.30 pm Sat/Sun 10.00 am - 5.30 pm Public holidays - closed

Retrievals Every half hour during opening hours.

Telephone enquiries (08) 9427 3291 Fax enquiries (08) 9427 3256 Website www.slwa.wa.gov.au Email:[email protected]

Specialist staff: Dr Sarah McQuade (Battye Historian) (08) 9427 3165 Steve Howell (Senior Subject Specialist : Battye) (08) 9427 3476 Carmel McRobert (Subject Specialist : Battye) (08) 9427 3305

State Library shop: Mon/Fri 10.00 am-5.00 pm. Sat & Sun 12.00 noon-5.00 pm.

State Records Office

The SRO Search Room on the Ground Floor is open for enquiries and use of material on weekdays from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. A Researcher’s Ticket is required.

Retrievals Previous day Available 9.30 am 11.00 am Available 12.00 pm 1.00 pm Available 2.00 pm

Requests for use of Government archives in the Battye Library must be lodged at the State Records Office by 1.00 pm if required the same evening and by 1.00 pm on Friday if required on the weekend; for continued use of the material in this way, the requests must be renewed on each occasion they are required. Requests must also be submitted for after hours use of State Records Office microfilm.

Telephone (08) 9427 3360, website www.sro.wa.gov.au, email: [email protected]

The Genealogy Centre Opening hours - as per Battye Library opening hours.

Specialist staff for Family History:Tricia Fairweather ((08) 9427 3395), Leonie Hayes (08) 9427 3247. Email: [email protected]

Volunteers from the Western Australian Genealogical Society Inc. (WAGS) are available to assist researchers on Tues, Wed, & Thurs from 9.30 am to 1.00 pm. Our Meeting Tuesday 13 March 2012 Great Southern Room, 4th floor State Library of Western Australia 5pm for 5.30pm

Our speakers will be Michael McCarthy and Sue Summers

The flying boats of Roebuck Bay

Dr Michael McCarthy, curator of Maritime Archaeology at the WA Museum will give a talk on the heritage preservation of the Flying Boat wrecks in Roebuck Bay from the Japanese attack on Broome on 3 March 1942. In addition to Mike’s talk, Dr Nonja Peters’ paper on the Dutch victims of the attack who were on the flying boats escaping from the Netherlands East Indies, will be presented by Dr Sue Summers, who assisted in the research.

After the meeting, members and guests are invited to join us for a meal at a nearby restaurant.

Contents About our speakers 4 Problem with the stairs? Meeting dates for 2012 4 If any members have difficulty A message from our President 5 with taking the stairs to the Australia Day Award - Tony Clack 6 News from the State Library 7 fourth floor, please notify staff State Records Office - News from the Archives 11 on either the ground floor Two books by our members reception desk or the Battye Lesa Melnyczuk - Ukrainian migrants in WA 14 Lenore Layman - editor of history of East Library desk on the 3rd floor Perth Power Station 14 for access to the staff lift to Gem of Time Award - Dr Cathie Clement OAM 15 East Perth Cemeteries project 17 the fourth floor. RWAHS book sale flyer 18 Current Friends of Battye Library projects 19 Subscriptions form 21 ‘Jack’s Back’ - Jack Honniball 22

3 About our speakers Adjunct Professor Dr Michael McCarthy is the Curator of Maritime Archaeology at the Western Australian Maritime Museum as well as on the staff of Notre Dame’s School of Arts and Sciences. Over many years as one of WA’s leading archeologists, Mike has been involved in the discovery and care of many key shipwreck sites including those of the Zuytdorp (1711), the Roebuck, the SS Xantho (1872), and the HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran. Dr McCarthy has researched and written several important archeological and historical works and been in charge of several major exhibitions. Dr Nonja Peters is the Director of the Migration, Ethnicity, Refugees & Citizenship (MERC) Research Unit at Curtin University. She is an expert on Western Australian migration, and more particularly Dutch migration, and her book Milk and Honey but no Gold: Postwar Migration to Western Australia from 1945-1964, was short-listed for the WA Premier’s 2001 Literary Awards, the Queensland Premier’s 2002 Literary (best history) Award for History and the NSW State Records John and Patricia Ward History Prize. Nonja is also a committee member of the Friends of Battye Library. Dr Sue Summers is Managing Editor of Black Swan Press at Curtin University, is a coordinator of the Australia-Asia-Pacific-Institute, and is currently involved in research in folk and maritime history, and the repatriation of disabled soldiers to WA following World War 1. Sue has a background in broadcast-journalism and a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Western Australia. from Curtin University. Sue is also a member of the committee of the Friends of the Battye Library.

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General meeting dates for 2012 This year four more functions will be held in the Great Southern Room, 4th floor, State Library of Western Australia. These meetings will be held on a Tuesday on the following dates and begin at 5.00pm for 5.30pm. 8 May, 10 July, 11 September (Annual General Meeting), and 20 November (End of Year function).

4 A message from the President Dear Friends 2012 begins with a bang – literally, as we look at the effects of the Japanese attack on Broome. Do come and join us for nibbles before our next general meeting on March 13th. Your committee has had good news from the OHRRG team – the first selection of tapes by Ronda Jamieson and Heather Campbell for a selection of representative oral history interviews to go on the State Library’s website has been completed and Ronda and Heather are busy making the next selection. The technicians have worked hard to keep up the spanking pace that was set before Christmas! See also ‘News from the State Library’ piece on OHRRG on page 10. Our Treasurer, Nick Drew, and I have been made members of the Stirling Gates Committee! This group set out to have the Gates that were erected in 1929 at the entrance to Stirling Park in Guildford (and on land originally belonging to the Woodbridge estate) refurbished. The wrought iron work had deteriorated and the hinges rusted through so they were virtually derelict. With urging from this committee the City of Swan has undertaken to do the restoration, in conjunction with the Swan-Guildford Historical Society and the Guildford Progress Society. The Governor has agreed to open the new gates on 3 April this year in front of a gathering of school children and interested onlookers. We will keep you posted as the the progress of this project. Do let us know of any restoration of historical items in your area. It is always useful to have a record. PS: These Q & As arrived in my email box from a young friend. Hope they give you a laugh as they did me. Q1. In which of his voyages did Captain Cook die? * His last voyage. Q2. River Ashburton flows in which state? * Liquid. Q3. What is the main reason for failure? * Exams. Q4. What can you never eat for breakfast? * Lunch & dinner. Q5. If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what it will become? * wet. Q6. How can a man go eight days without sleeping? * No problem, he sleeps at night. Q7. How can you lift an elephant with one hand? * You will never find an elephant that has only one hand..

5 Q8. If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in other hand, what would you have ? * Very large hands. Q9. If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it? * No time at all, the wall is already built. Q10. How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it? *Any way you want, concrete floors are very hard to crack. All the best and hope to see you soon. Pamela Statham Drew ______Australia Day Award We have mentioned in past newsletters about the restoration of Gwambygine Homestead, south of York, the second oldest homestead in W.A. the project Pamela Statham Drew and Nick Drew have been involved with a small group of volunteers including Tony Clack of the River Conservation Society. On Australia Day in York ,Tony (who can found in the Battye Library most times when he is in Perth !) was made the York Citizen of the Year 2012 for his contribution to the history of the local area and for writing many books. His latest being a history of the York Town Hall. to celebrate its 100th year in 2011. Tony is shown receiving his award from the Shire President Cr Tony Boyle and his Federal MP Judi Moylan the member for Pearce who also presented Tony with the Pearce award. At the same event The York Society Inc was presented with the Community Group of the year, the Society hosted the State History Conference of Affiated Historical Societies year in York. Photo courtesy Nick Drew Pamela Statham Drew

6 News from the State Library Conference The 11th Australasian Urban History/Planning History Conference, co- hosted by the State Library and the University of Western Australia, was held from 5-8 February 2012. It was the first time the conference had been held in Perth. The conference’s theme Urban Transformations: booms, bust and other catastrophes focused on the many factors which transform urban areas over time. The sub themes, ‘boom and busts’ and ‘catastrophes’ respectively looked at the impact of rapid population and economic change on the planning and history of a city and at recent urban events, such as the Brisbane floods and the earthquakes which devastated New Zealand and Japan. The keynote speakers were Charles Schencking, Associate Professor at Hong Kong University, who talked about the great Tokyo earthquake of 1923 and the unique opportunity this tragic event provided for urban planning and Richard Weller, Winthrop Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of WA who lectured on the future of urbanisation from a global, national and local perspective. There were also two panel discussions and 36 papers of wide variety and interest, mostly from Australia, but also from Iran, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, New Zealand and Bangladesh.

Exhibitions In support of the conference, the State Library of Western Australia and the State Records Office mounted an exhibition showcasing town planning and architectural records held by both bodies. The exhibition opened on 18 January and will run to the end of February. It features real estate maps, photographs and architectural plans (mainly from the Forbes & Fitzhardinge collection) held by the State Library. These have been scanned and blown up on to panels which will be placed on display elsewhere in the Discovery Lounge once the exhibition has finished. The State Records Office contributed original plans, blueprints and town planning records to the display. In March the State Library will display photographs from the ever popular Western Australian Press Photographer of the Year Awards. These great images from leading Western Australian press photographers help to remind us of the year that was.

7 Recent Retirement Carmel McRobert, a long standing State Library staff member, retired on 4 January 2012. She worked in the Battye Library and the Science and Technology Branch as a library officer, library technician and librarian over the years as she upgraded her qualifications. She spent some time in the Pictorial Collection under Robin South, Joanna Sassoon and Julie Martin before transferring to Private Archives. She later acted as Team Leader: Science and Technology, and ran the AskNow service for some time. For the last 6 years she has been a Subject Specialist: Battye Library.

Carmel was extremely knowledgeable about the collections• of the Battye Library and the technical aspects of the job, and was always willing to share her knowledge with staff and clients. She provided a reference and research service; gave tours, talks and seminars; created and updated web pages; curated exhibitions; maintained the annual reformatting plan; and liaised with the National Library over the ANPlan. She was mainly responsible for the success of the inaugural Pictorial Archives of Central TAFE photographic competition, which was started as a means of acquiring modern digital photographs for the State Library. Unfortunately, even though it was a success, the competition foundered over the question of copyright. In retirement Carmel will be able to spend more time with her beloved schnauzers Zac and Zoe and will be kept busy travelling between Perth, Sydney and Melbourne to visit her children and grandchildren. Later this year Carmel is going on a long trip to Italy and will have plenty of time in retirement to indulge her love of travel. She will be sorely missed. New Acquisitions New acquisitions from October–December 2011 include: • papers of Rica Erickson (to add to the existing collection); • papers of the Clifton family including the original diary of Louisa Clifton (to add to the existing collection); • Frederick W Edmunds photograph collection of Point Cloates Whaling Station, c1948; • Rev William Edwards Jones’ photograph collection including Kondinin, 1929-33; • Christian Brothers’ Childcare Institutions Admissions Registers (restricted);

8 • diary and photographs of Henry Charles Berand, 1894-96; • Aidan Clark photograph collection of the Perth region, 1920-29; • papers of Florence Hickson, a Fairbridge child migrant; • Clive Robertson photograph collection of Leonora and Gwalia, 1957; • photographs of Lawlers, early 1900’s; • Living Histories Project original submissions including manuscripts and photographs; • site plans, specifications and photographs of 39 & 40 Jutland Parade, Dalkeith, 1939-40; • • Paul Ritter correspondence 1949-90’s; • Geraldton Yacht Club records 1916-1950’s; • photographs of East Victoria Park primary school students 1938-40; • papers of Alexander Ashley (Sandy) Lewis MLA including a diary of a 1950 trip to Cockatoo Island; • ALP WA records (to add to existing collection); • medical records and glass negatives of Fairbridge; • business archives of L E Shapcott; • suburban subdivision posters from the 1920s; • Elders real estate register 1925-1945 (Wickepin and adjacent areas); • glass negatives from Marloo Station (Gascoyne early 20th century); • scrapbook of photographs and cuttings Onslow 1946-1952 (including material about the Mote Bello Islands atomic test); and, • a large framed map of a proposed Albany secession in 1900. Love2Read Café Running from Saturday 21 January to Sunday 26 February 2012 (except 9-13 February to accommodate a music festival in the Perth Cultural Centre), the Love2Read Café is an outdoor reading room modelled on Bryant Park, New York. This exciting initiative for the National Year of Reading can be found in the forecourt of the State Library and is open Monday to Thursday 10.00am-7.30pm, Friday 10.00am-5.00pm and weekends 10.30am-5.00pm. You can recognise the Café by its brightly coloured tables and chairs and its book trolleys with a range of reading materials for all ages and interests. It also has programs and events suitable for all ages, such as author talks, children’s activities, word game Saturdays, screenings of

9 classic films based on books on the Big Screen on Sundays at 5.00pm, and live music. All in all a fun place for everyone. Film Screenings February and March The State Library regularly presents free film screenings in the State Library Theatre. These Wednesday Matinees feature films and videos from the Library’s collections. Screenings usually run for about an hour, are free and begin at 12.30pm. Bookings are not necessary. The remaining February film screenings are: 22 February – Afghan stories (2002, 58 minutes – looks at the torment, resolve and dreams of a people torn apart by war); 29 February – The edge of the world (1997, 55 minutes – a documentary on Tim Winton). In March film screenings are: 7 March – Punch lines: a seriously funny history (1994, 55 minutes – a look at past Australian comics and their legacy); 14 March – Eye of the dictator (1994, 55 minutes – the story of German cameramen during the Nazi period from 1933-1945); 21 March – no screening; 28 March – An imaginary life: David Malouf (1997, 55 minutes – a reflective study on the author and his work). Digitisation Work continues on the digitisation of the Western Australian townsite plan series. This is a collection of over 1,000 maps of most country towns (with multiple dates for some) showing boundaries, streets, land lots, reserves, railways etc. It is planned that after this series has been completed work will start on digitising some of the State Library’s rare Western Australian maps. Digitisation of photographs continues, as does the digitisation of some of Western Australia’s rare books. Oral History Records Rescue Group (OHRRG) We are now just over halfway through this two year project to digitise 7500 hours of oral histories from cassette tapes, and to date 4927 hours (2147 interviews) have been digitised. Some examples of the rich and varied stories digitised are: An interview with a Western Australian filmmaker who had just finished his first film (he later went on to be a successful film and television director). He talks of the challenges of shooting a film in one of Perth’s hottest summers (including sharing a swimming pool with a dugite), and lessons learned from trying to save money by not hiring professional stuntmen. An interview with an able seaman who served in Australian and Pacific

10 waters in WWII, including minesweeping off Fremantle and Darwin, an account of the sinking of the HMAS Wallaroo and his rescue from the sea, and the effect this experience had on himself and others. A surprisingly candid interview with a prostitute, who talks of working in the Roe Street brothels in the 1950s, and later working independently into the 1990s. It is a frank account of the Western Australian sex industry, but issues of feminism, women’s work and family relationships are also explored. Steve Howell (Senior Subject Specialist, Battye) ______State Records Office - News from the Archives The State Records Office of Western Australia invites you to the 2012 series of Lunchtime Seminars. Featuring a variety of topics, these seminars are designed to inform researchers about the State Records Office, its functions and the collections it houses. It also provides researchers with an opportunity to meet fellow researchers, learn about members of staff, and provides a forum for questions and discussions in a relaxed and friendly environment. Lunchtime seminars occur between 12.30 and 1.30pm on the day advertised and are held in the SRO’s South West Room, next to the Search Room Attendees are encouraged to bring their sandwiches and drinks to the Seminars. Tea and Coffee are provided. Proposed dates, presenters and topics for 2012 are: Thurs 8 March - Jennie and Bevan Carter - Settlement to City - researching A history of the Armadale district and its people. Wed 18 April - Tom Reynolds - Researching Colonial Secretary’s Office Records. Tues 3 July - NAIDOC week related seminar on Indigenous records (speaker and topic to be announced). Wed 19 Sept - Lise Summers - The Year of the Farmer and archives in the SRO about agriculture. Wed 14 Nov - topic and speaker to be advised.

11 2012 Margaret Medcalf Award Nominations are called for the 2012 Margaret Medcalf Award for excellence in research and referencing utilisng original sources in the State Archives collection. This annual Award honours Miss Margaret Medcalf OAM, the second State Archivist for Western Australia (1971-1989), for her valuable contribution to the development of archives in Western Australia. Works nominated for the Award must demonstrate use of archival sources, and substantial (but not necessarily exclusive) use of State archives held by the State Records Office. Nominated works may be fiction or non-fiction and may comprise any format (i.e. book, article, conference paper, website, index, etc). Nominated works may be published or unpublished. Nominations may be submitted by anyone, including the author of the work. Nominated works must have been completed or published during the 2011 calendar year. Nomination forms should be accompanied by three copies of nominated works for presentation to the judging panel. The judging criteria for the Award are: • Level of use of the State archives collection: How much does the work rely on archival sources for its argument? What proportion of the cited works are State archives? • Use of referencing: How well does the work reference the sources in the State archives collection? How easy would it be to locate the archival sources the author references? • Level of contribution to knowledge (historical, cultural, heritage, etc). • Original use of the State archives collection: Does the work use new archival material or use different sources to answer questions or highlight issues? Is well known archival material dealt with in a new or different way? • Presentation: How well has the work been crafted? How well does it stimulate interest in the material? Does the work have community appeal? The judging panel for the Award comprises a member of the State Records Commission, the State Archivist and Executive Director State Records and a well-known WA-based historian.

12 Please complete the Nomination Form and lodge this with the State Records Office by close of business Friday 27 April 2012.

Margaret Medcalf

Award Nomination Form This Award recognizes excellence in referencing and research in the use of State archives. It honours Miss Margaret Medcalf OAM, Western Australia’s second State Archivist, for her valuable contribution to the development of archives in Western Australia. The winner of this Award receives a cash prize of $1000, or shares this prize if there is more than one winner. Works nominated must demonstrate use of the State archives collection, held by the State Records Office (SRO).

Nominated works need not be published, may be fiction or non-fiction, and in any media. Nominators are encouraged to supply 3 copies of nominated works to the SRO, to enable short-listing and further consideration by the judging panel. One copy of short-listed and winning works will be retained permanently by the SRO.

For further details including information about the selection criteria for the Award, see http://www.sro.wa.gov.au/events/margaret-medcalf-award or contact Gerard Foley at the State Records Office on (08) 9427 3364.

Nominations

Any work completed in 2011 is eligible for nomination. Nominations may be submitted by anyone, including the author of the work.

Nominations for the Margaret Medcalf Award are to be made to the State Archivist, State Records Office of WA, Alexander Library Building, Perth Cultural Centre, Perth, WA 6000, by close of business Friday, 27 April 2012.

Author/Researcher

Mailing Address

Email Address

Title of Work

Type of Work

Description of Research

Thank you for your submission.

State Records Office of Western Australia Margaret Medcalf Award 2012 13 Recent books by our members Silent Memories — Traumatic Lives: Ukrainian Migrant Refugees in Western Australia by Lesa Melnyczuk. To be published March 2012. Silent Memories — Traumatic Lives is a quest for understanding, an attempt to make sense of the very emotional history of the Ukrainian post-war migrants to Western Australia. It is not a history of Ukraine, it is a history of the Ukrainians who came to settle in Western Australia. They arrived in Australia by ship between 1947 and 1951, from the Displaced Persons camps of Europe, survivors of the worst of the Soviet regime’s atrocities and only recently released from forced unpaid labour under the German Nazi regime. Although this is the first study of Ukrainian famine survivors to be completed in Western Australia, it is significant that the testimonies collected and reproduced here reflect the findings of similar studies carried out in Ukrainian communities elsewhere. This work adds to mounting evidence of the genocidal nature of the Ukrainian famine of 1932–1933 and the lasting effects it has had on survivors. Illustrated with more than 100 historical and personal photographs.

Lenore Layman (ed). Powering Perth: A history of the East Perth Power Station. Perth, Western Australia: Black Swan Press (2011). Adjunct Associate Professor of History, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Murdoch University, Dr Lenore Layman was awarded a prestigious ARC Linkage Grant for the East Perth Power Station study. Powering Perth: A history of the East Perth Power Station is one of the achievements of that study. “This book tells the story of one of Perth’s most significant places, drawing particularly on the memories of those who depended upon it for work and power. The East Perth Power Station lies at the heart of the electrification of Perth and deserves to be recognised and remembered as central to the fabric of life in Perth. In turn, in highlighting our ever-expanding consumption of electricity, the story reminds us of the environmental limits to that consumption and the questions of sustainability which confront us in the new century.” About the editor: Lenore plays an active role in the Western Australian historical community as President of the Royal Western Australian

14 Historical Society; Executive Director, Western Australian History Foundation. She is also on the committees of the Society for the Study of Labour History (WA branch) and the Professional Historians Association (WA). Chapters and contributing authors are: 1. Between the Brooks: Swan River Foreshore from Claisebrook to Walters Brook, Leonie Stella 2. ‘It was just like a reserve in the city’: Aboriginal Oral Histories of East Perth around the Power Station, Mary Anne Jebb 3. Industrial East Perth in Growth and Decline: The Power Station in its Suburb, Joseph Christensen 4. Technologies of Power, Richard G. Hartley 5. Work, Charlie Fox 6. ‘The best years of their lives’: Apprentices and their Training, Bobbie Oliver 7. Health, Safety and Welfare: remembering ‘the way it was’, Lenore Layman 8. Electrifying the City, Jenny Gregory and Lisa MacKinney 9. Electrifying the Home, Chilla Bulbeck 10. Supplying Power to an Expanding Network, Frank Harman 11. Environmental Impacts, Joseph Christensen and Richard G. Hartley 12. A new Life for the Power Station? David Dolan and Tory Woodhouse The book is currently available from The State Library Bookshop at $35 per copy. Financial Friends of Battye Library members, however, are entitled to a 15% discount from the State Library Bookshop. (see below) ______State Library Bookshop - discount for members The State Library has generously offered members of the Friends of Battye Library a 15% discount on new book purchases. To be eligible for the discount, members must show proof of name when making their purchases so staff can confirm that you are a current member. Please note that the discount does not apply to secondhand books sold in the bookshop, nor to the Friends of Battye Library publications which

15 are sold at an already discounted rate. Archival quality materials The bookshop stocks archival materials as recommended by the State Library’s conservation staff. There are a variety of boxes, paper products, photo enclosures, and binders available to help preserve your precious items. ______

Gem of Time 2011 - awarded to Dr Cathie Clement OAM Our Gem of Time awards which were established in 2002 acknowledges the contribution of outstanding men and women to the recording, collection, and preservation of Western Australia’s history. at the Friends End of Year function in November 2011 the award was presented to Cathie with the following citation: “Cathie is a leading Western Australian historian, heritage consultant and researcher who is committed to the recording and preservation of Western Australia’s history, particularly that of the Kimberley region. In 1992 she was awarded a Doctorate from Murdoch University with her meticulously researched and ground-breaking thesis Australia’s North-west: a study of exploration, land policy and land acquisition, 1644-1884. In the process of her research, she consulted, used and contributed materials to collections held in the State Records Office and the State Library of Western Australia’s Battye Library. Cathie has been an advocate and a supporter of both institutions for many years. In 1989 Cathie was the key figure in the formation of the Professional Historians Association of Western Australia and was the Association’s inaugural Chairperson. In her work for this Association, she guided the development and introduction of national accreditation standards for professional historians. She played a major part in the formation of the Australian Council of Professional Historians Associations and remains the WA Representative to it. Cathie was the founding President of the Kimberley Society and was made a life member of that Society in 2004. She has a strong commitment to Indigenous history, was a long term member of the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee which advises the Minister for

16 Indigenous Affairs on matters relating to Aboriginal heritage, and has provided expert evidence in native title cases. She has also been a member of the Heritage Council of Western Australia, and involved in many heritage projects in the Kimberley, even to the extent of raising conservation funds herself. In recognition of her work, Cathie won the Council’s Heritage Award in 2002. For her “service to the community through the recording and preservation of the history and heritage of the Kimberley region”, Cathie was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2006. Author of more than 30 books, articles and scholarly papers, Cathie edited a special edition of Studies in Western Australian History titled “Ethics and the Practice of History”, Number 26, which was published in 2010. “ The Friends of the Battye Library (Inc.) would like to add to Cathie’s many honours and achievements and show our appreciation of her commitment and generosity by listing her as a Gem of Time.” ______

East Perth Cemeteries Project Friends of Battye Library Inc., Cherie Strickland and Lorraine Clarke would like to thank Lotterywest for their support of The East Perth Cemeteries Project. Lotterywest granted the project $34225 from the Interpreting Cultural Heritage Grants. This will fund the compiling and typesetting of citations and memorial inscriptions, photographing of headstones, scanning of old Photographs of Headstones and the liaison with website experts. With the project aiming to be completed in the middle of the year, our focus at this stage is to give the inhabitants of Cemetery Hill their biographical details such as arrival date and ship, spouse’s names, parent’s names and their occupations. Many of the pioneers in the East Perth Cemeteries were living at the Mount Eliza Depot at the time of their death; most of these were expirees, convicts or enrolled pensioner guards. Determining how these men arrived in the colony and identifying their convict number or former regiments are some of the questions which we are endeavoring to discover. 17 Many convicts had the same or similar names and ages, e.g. Thomas Green died 30/11/1860 at the Colonial Hospital aged 31 years (born c1829) from sffects of chloroform during an operation. His death is reported in the Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News 7 December 1860 page 2; this informs us that he is an expiree, however which one? There are seven Thomas Greens who arrived in the colony before 1860 as convicts, three of these are born between 1827 and 1837. So which one is he? Daniel Robinson died on the 16 October 1898 at the Depot aged 67 years (born c1831) is he the convict who arrived on the Lord Dalhousie in 1863, he was born c1838? John Ryding married Jane Rewell in 1885 Perth and had four children; he died at the Mount Eliza Depot on the 20 July 1898 aged 67 years (born c1831) how and when did he arrive in the colony? Thomas Smith who died of senility on 31 January 1890 aged 83 years (born c 1807) having been admitted to the Mount Eliza Depot on the 15 November 1888. There are thirty five Thomas Smiths arriving in the colony between 1840 and 1890. Which of those is this Thomas Smith? Did he have a wife or children? Alexander MacPherson, formerly in charge of the Greenmount Depot was admitted to the Mount Eliza Depot on the 10 February 1892 and died there on the 19 August 1894 aged 67 years (born c1827), was he formerly an enrolled pensioner guard? How and when did he arrive in the colony? If you have a convict, an enrolled pensioner guard or their children or spouses who were living in the Perth area at the time of their death, we would like to hear from you. Giving biographical details to all the Inhabitants of the East Perth Cemeteries will give them the memorial they deserve. Cherie Strickland and Lorraine Clarke [email protected]

18 Friends of Battye Library projects - as at 13 March 2012 Projects currently funded for the State Library: Conservation of J S Roe papers - $20,000 (General Fund) Digitisation of Lands & Surveys Chain Series maps - $11,400 (Gift) Conservation of James Henry papers - $300 (General Fund) Newspapers digitisation: Coolgardie Miner 1913-1917 - $1,277 (General) Southern Advertiser 1888 - $844 (General Fund) Digitisation of WA Biographical Index cards - $9,260 (Sholl Bequest) for the State Records Office: Digitisation of Surveyors Field Books - $10,6000 (Sholl Bequest) And East Perth Burial database (joint agencies project) - $10,000 (General) ______Friends of Battye Library Constitution The updated Constitution can now be accessed from the Friends of Battye Library website at http://www.friendsofbattyelibrary.org.au/Membership.htm. If any members would prefer a printed copy, please let me know. Jennie Carter (Editor & Membership Secretary) ______Important - Membership renewal Thank you so much to all the members who have paid their membership fees after they became due on 1 July 2011. Your membership of the Friends of Battye Library is crucial in enabling us to undertake important projects to assist in acquiring, preserving, and making available Western Australian archival and documentary materials. Another of the Friends’ key roles is to help publicise and promote the collections of the J S Battye Library of West Australian History and the State Records Office as well as to advocate for the collecting, building and care of the State’s Western Australian documentary heritage. For those who do intend to pay but the matter has slipped your mind, a membership form is included on the following page and we are pleased to offer an online payment facility, for those who use internet banking, to make paying your subscription even easier.

19 RWAHS Annual Book Sale We are pleased to inform members that the Royal Western Australian Historical Society is again holding its popular secondhand book sale. You can be assured of picking up a bargain (or 20!).

20 Friends of Battye Library (Inc) Subscriptions form From 1 July to 30 June each year LIFE MEMBERSHIP $500 Annual Membership Ordinary $25 Joint $35 Concession (pensioner / full time student) $15 Corporate $50 Donation $______(Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible) I wish to apply for / renew membership: Name ______Organisation ______

Address ______

______post code ______Tel: ______mobile ______Email ______

(If you do not wish to receive emails from us, please tick here ) ------If paying by cheque, please print this form, complete it, and send with your cheque to: The Treasurer Friends of Battye Library PO Box 216, NORTHBRIDGE 6865 Or leave it in an envelope marked ‘Attention Treasurer, Friends of Battye Library’ at the State Library’s Security desk on the ground floor. If paying by electronic direct funds transfer, our details are: Account Name – Friends of Battye Library (Inc) Account Number – 4220 58413 : BSB Number – 016-185 In the payment description section, please type your initial and surname as well as ‘subs’ or ‘donation’ to ensure that your payment can be identified. We will still need your completed form for our records, so please return it either by post or as an attachment to an email to [email protected] with a note of your online payment. If you require a receipt, please tick here  Thank you for your interest in the Friends of Battye Library, it is much appreciated.

21 Jack’s Back: Re-inventing a City’s Street names Many of our readers would be aware that all of Perth’s Hay Street to the east of Barrack Street was once known as Howick Street. When the old name was abandoned in 1897, it was just one of numerous changes that simplified the formerly confusing nomenclature of many of the city’s thoroughfares. Thus the name of Murray Street was similarly extended eastward to take in the part of Goderich Street running from Barrack Street to Victoria Square. And, expanding westward, Wellington Street came to obliterate the whole of Douro Street, which had run from Milligan to Thomas Streets. Of the central streets running northward, William was extended from Roe to Brisbane Streets, thus fully swallowing Hutt Street. Pier Street was pushed on across the railway line to replace Mackie Street. A longer Beaufort Street burst forth from Lincoln to Walcott Streets, thanks to the abolition of Burt Street. The increasingly prominent Newcastle Street, which then as now came from Leederville, was drawn eastward past Lake Street to absorb Ellen Street and further beyond Stirling Street to replace Mangles Street all the way to Lord Street. Close to today’s Cultural Centre, Aberdeen, Francis and James Streets each grew at the expense of the contiguous streets, Lamb, John and Hardinge respectively, so letting them all course right through modern Northbridge. And right near today’s State Library, but then stretching the two blocks from Aberdeen to James Streets, Museum Street was the new name substituted for Limbo Street, thus phasing out gloomy connotations with the Old Gaol adjacent. Presumably the main impetus for all these commendable changes had been the rapid growth of the city in the wake of the gold rush. They must have been quite a help to many a newcomer in finding his or her way about. After advance notice in the commercial press a month or so before, a list of the 27 street names as newly re-defined was proclaimed in the Government Gazette of 23 July 1897.

Jack Honniball

22 NO. 144 July 2012

ABN 571625138800 July 2012 Meeting

Henry Willey Reveley: Roundhouse Architect Professor Bob Reece

The Round House at Fremantle. taken in 1979..

[Courtesy Battye Library, State Library of WA - Stevenson, Kinder & Scott collection No. 363230PD]

To be held on Tuesday 10 July 2012 at 5.00pm for 5.30pm in the Great Southern Room, 4th floor State Library of Western Australia. Please see details on Page 3 Objectives The objectives of the Friends of Battye Library (Inc.) are to assist and pro- mote the interests of the J S Battye Library of West Australian History and the State Records Office, and of those activities of the Library Board of Western Australia concerned with the acquisition, preservation and use of archival and documentary materials.

Patron Mrs Ruth Reid AM Emeritus President Professor Geoffrey Bolton AO Committee (2011-2012) President Dr Pamela Statham Drew Vice President Mrs Gillian O’Mara Secretary position vacant Treasurer Mr Nick Drew Committee members Mr Graham Bown, Ms Jennie Carter, Dr Alison Gregg, Mr Jim Gregg, Mr Robert O’Connor QC, Mr Lindsay Peet, Dr Nonja Peters, and Dr Sue Summers.

Ex-Officio Mrs Margaret Allen (CEO & State Librarian) Ms Cathrin Cassarchis (State Archivist, SRO) Dr Sarah McQuade (Battye Historian)

Newsletter editor Ms Jennie Carter

Volunteers Ring (08) 9427 3266 or email: [email protected]

All correspondence to: The Secretary, PO Box 216, Northbridge WA 6865

ISSN 1035-8692

Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Friends of Battye Library Committee, the State Library of WA, or the State Records Office. Our Meeting Tuesday 10 July 2012 Great Southern Room, 4th floor State Library of Western Australia 5pm for 5.30pm

Our speaker will be Bob Reece

Henry Willey Reveley: Roundhouse Architect

Professor Emeritus Bob Reece will be talking about Henry Reveley, our first Colonial Engineer, whose two surviving buildings are the Round House in Fremantle and the old Court House in Supreme Court Gardens. Designed in the neo-classical style, they were infuenced by Henry’s father, the architect Willey Reveley, one of the founders of what was called the Greek Revival school.

After the meeting, members and guests are invited to join us for a meal at a nearby restaurant. Bookings can be made on the night.

Problem with the stairs? Contents If any members have difficulty About our speaker 4 Meeting dates for 2012 4 with taking the stairs to the A message from our President 5 fourth floor, please notify staff A note from our Treasurer 6 on either the ground floor ‘Living History’ - RSL project 6 ‘Have you a story to tell? Lindsay Peet reception desk or the Battye Medals awarded for bravery - Broome 1942 7 Library desk on the 3rd floor Lindsay Peet - Fellow of the Library Board 10 for access to the staff lift to News from the State Library 12 State Records Office - News from the Archives 15 the fourth floor. Pioneers’ Memorial Service 2012 18 New books by our members A different kind of ‘subject’ - Anne Hunter 19 Subscriptions form 20 ‘Jack’s Back’ - Jack Honniball 21

3 Henry Willey Revely Reveley spent most of his childhood and youth in Rome and Livorno, where his stepfather was a merchant, graduating in engineering at the University of Pisa. Through his mother, who had been a close frriend of Mary Wollstonecraft and had fostered her baby daughter, Mary Godwin, he met the poet Percy Shelley, whose life he saved in 1821 on the River Arno. Henry returned to England in 1822 to seek employment and in 1826 went out to Cape Colony as Colonial Engineer. Dismissed by Governor Richard Bourke, he was appointed Colonial Engineer for the Swan River Colony by Captian James Stirling in May 1829 and, together with his wife Amelia, joined the first party of settlers on board the Parmelia.

About our speaker Professor Bob Reece holds a BA from the Australian National University, an MA from the University of Queensland and a PhD from the Australian National University. He teaches history at Murdoch University and is the author of books on Australian, particularly Indigenous history, and the history of Borneo. He was awarded a Harold White Fellowship to undertake research into the Daisy Bates collection held at the National Library of Australia . Image courtesy Murdoch University.

______General meeting dates for 2012 This year three more functions will be held in the Great Southern Room, 4th floor, State Library of Western Australia. These meetings will be held on a Tuesday on the following dates and begin at 5.00pm for 5.30pm. 10 July - Speaker Professor Bob Reece 11 September (Annual General Meeting) 20 November (End of Year function).

4 A message from the President Dear Friends I am sure you will all join me in congratulating one of our members Professor Alex George on his recent award of the AM in the Queens Birthday honours. The announcement read “Alexander Segger George - For service to conservation and the environment as a botanist, historian and author, particularly in the area of Australian flora, and through roles with national and international professional organisations.” It is a well earned honour for the man recognised as the world authority on the Banksia and Dryandra - and we are so lucky he is also interested in history! Promoting Western Australia’s history is our most vital role and I am asking for your help in what I believe is an exciting proposition. At the moment it is very difficult to find a reading list for a particular subject in WA history unless you are enrolled in an appropriate history course. For the normal interested reader it is really difficult – so I thought why don’t we create a master list and have it on our website available for anyone to use! It could then be updated and added to on a regular basis. As some of you will know, I used to lecture in Australian Economic History so had reading lists that could form a basis for such a list – but it would be wonderful if we could make it really comprehensive. So far, there are categories like ‘war’, ‘gold’ and the ‘1930s Depression’, but we need regional and even particular towns as categories. I envisage including out-of-print books one can find only in libraries, as well as those still obtainable in bookshops – not many are yet on line! Where I need your help is if each one of you could look at the list, which should be up on our website when you receive this newsletter, and check if books you are aware of are included. If not could you write down the details – same as the list - and send it to me by email (nickdrew@bigpond. com) or by mail to the Friends mail box (details on the last page of this newsletter) and I will update the list on the web every month or so. This will make us a first in Australia and I am sure will be of enormous help to students and interested readers for many years to come. Looking forward to seeing you at our next general meeting on Tuesday 10 July and hopefully at the informal meal we go to afterwards. Pamela Statham Drew

5 A Note from our Treasurer This is gentle reminder that membership subscriptions for 2012/13 are due. Sincere thanks to those members who have already paid. Your membership of the Friends of Battye Library is crucial in enabling us to undertake important projects to assist in acquiring, preserving and making available Western Australian archival and documentary materials. Another of the Friends’ key roles is to help publicise and promote the collections of the J S Battye Library of West Australian History and the State Records Office as well as to advocate for the collecting, building, and care of the State’s Western Australian documentary heritage. A membership form is included in this newsletter on page 20 and it lists various ways of making payment. Or you can renew your subscription at our General Meeting on Tuesday 10 July 2012. A sincere thank you for your continued support of the Friends of Battye Library (Inc.) Nick Drew Treasurer

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Report on the RSL Project ‘Living History’ I have been on the board of this Returned and Services League (RSL) of Western Australia project for about a year and it is coming to fruition now. It attracted a Lotterywest grant of just over $800,000. The grant was to collect, preserve and make available (digitally) WA RSL clubs’ minutes and memorabilia – which has been done by visiting all the extant clubs throughout the State.

6 Digitised records and photographs are being placed on an interactive map similar to the State Library’s ‘My page in history’ initiative. The RSL project staff have also been in contact with the Library’s ‘My page in history’ staff. Also being digitised is the Listening Post, which is the major RSL magazine, and the first issues from the pre World War Two 1920’s and 1930’s will be released on 3 August this year. The second lot for the 1940’s and 1950’s are planned to be released on 15 October, and the last set of issues will be placed online in April next year. This will be great news for genealogists as the Listening Post is packed with names and places. Another event planned is an exhibition at the State Library to run from 19 April through to June 2013. This will feature the interactive map on consols in the exhibition area, as well as artifacts and records from the Battye Library and the RSL in cabinets. Panels around the room will feature the stories of servicemen and women and their clubs. The exhibition is being assisted by Steve Howell and Doug George. Steve is also with me as a member of the RSL’s ‘Living History’ project committee as well as Jan McCahon Marshall who has just replaced Lindy Wallace. Pamela Statham Drew ______

Have you a story to tell? Lindsay Peet [The following article has been written by long term member and supporter of the Battye Library and State Records Office, Lindsay Peet.

Note: At a ceremony held on 3 April this year, Lindsay was honoured as a Fellow of the Library Board of Western Australia Please see the article written by Dr Ronda Jamieson on page 10. Jennie Carter (Editor)]

Lindsay Peet at home. Photo courtesy L Peet.

7 Medals awarded for Bravery and Assistance at Broome on 3 March 1942 At the March 2012 Friends of Battye Library Meeting, Dr Michael McCarthy of the Western Australian Maritime Museum gave a talk on the flying boat wrecks in Roebuck Bay resulting from the surprise strafing attacks by nine Japanese Zero fighters on the morning of 03 March 1942. A total of fifteen Dutch, British, American and Australian flying boats were destroyed on the water at Broome with six British airmen and at least 52 Dutch nationals being killed (there were additional fatalities away from Roebuck Bay). Most of these aircraft and all of the persons who died had just been evacuated from Java. A paper written by Dr Nonja Peters of Curtin University giving the Dutch side of this story was also presented by Dr Sue Summers at this meeting. On display at these presentations was one of the three medals for Humane Assistance awarded by Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina of

Above: Silver medal in its case. Below left: citation which reads: “To Lawrence [sic] BRUCE for having brought to safety and care several wounded Dutchmen who were then in extreme life-danger, by his extraordinary personal courage on board of the Motorketch “Nicol Bay” under enemy machine gunfire during an enemy attack on Broom the third of March 1942.” Below right: Letter to Laurence Bruce from the Prime Minister’s Department, Canberra.

8 the Netherlands to Western Australian men for rescuing Dutch nationals from the water near their burning Dornier and Catalina flying boats during this terrifying attack. The medal concerned was the silver one awarded to Laurance Nicholas Bruce, 49, deckhand on the 56 ton auxiliary ketch, Nicol Bay, which was being used as a refuelling lighter for the flying boats. This medal is now in the State Library of WA Foundation’s collection held in the State Library together with its provenancing documentation. The Master of the Nicol Bay, Captain Harald Mathisen, 46, was awarded a gold medal for his part in the rescues. Another silver Medal was awarded to a One Arm Point Aborigine, Charles Joseph D’Antoine, 21, who dived into the water from a flying boat and rescued a drowning Dutch woman and child. D’Antoine’s silver medal is held by his family in Broome but the whereabouts of Mathisen’s gold medal is presently unknown. The Nicol Bay was very close to the attack with Mathisen and Bruce taking considerable personal risks in staying there and carrying out their rescues as it was carrying more than 180 drums of 100 octane petrol: a hit by one of the explosive 20mm cannon shells fired by the Zeros would have set the whole boat on fire. Queen Wilhelmina recommended the award of these medals in 1943, but because they were foreign decorations it was necessary to request permission from His Majesty King George VI. On 09 August 1944, the King gave unrestricted permission for the wearing of these awards. Queen Wilhelmina’s Royal Decree then followed, being dated 30 March 1945, but King George VI’s personal consent forwarded to the Governor- General of Australia was not published in the Commonwealth Gazette until 28 June 1945. Apparently none of the three men knew about the confirmation of these medals until after this gazettal; they were bestowed through the Royal Netherlands Legation, Australia, after the end of the War. Two further decorations were made for actions at Broome on 03 March 1942. Queen Wilhelmina awarded the Chevalier of the Order of Orange Nassau to the well-known WA airline pilot, Captain Jimmy Woods, for evacuating many Dutch wounded, women and children by air from Broome to Port Hedland later that day under very difficult conditions using his small Electra airliner for repeated trips. A RAAF Corporal, Andy Ireland, was awarded the British Empire Medal for launching a rubber dinghy from one of the RAAF flying boats under enemy fire and saving the lives of six other RAAF airmen. As far as is known, these

9 five decorations are the only ones awarded as a direct result of enemy action in WA, although in the 1990s Father Seraphim Sanz OSB MBE OAM received a Civilian Service Medal for his World War II service at the Drysdale (now Kalumburu) Mission in the northern Kimberley, the only one known to have been awarded for general frontline civilian service in WA during the War. Further reading Lewis, Tom and Ingman, Peter, Zero hour at Broome: the untold story of the attacks on northwest Australia in 1942, Avonmore Books, Kent Town, South Australia, 2011. Prime, Mervyn W, Broome’s one day war: the story of the Japanese raid on Broome, 3rd March 1942, Shire of Broome, Broome, WA, 1992. Tyler, William H, Flight of diamonds: the story of Broome’s war and the Carnot Bay diamonds, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, WA, 1987. [Editor’s note: Lindsay donated the funds to the State Library Foundation in 2011 to facilitate the purchase of Laurence Bruce’s Medal.]

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Lindsay Peet, Fellow of the Library Board of Western Australia Members will be delighted that another honour has been conferred on Friends of Battye Library ‘Gem of Time’, Lindsay Peet − that of Fellow of the Library Board of Western Australia. There have been only 18 such awards since the first three were granted in 1984. At a gathering on 3 April, the Chairman of the Board, Professor Matthew Allen, called Lindsay ‘a great friend, generous supporter and contributor to the State’s heritage collections, and a passionate advocate’ for their conservation. Tribute was also paid to Lindsay’s significant contributions which enabled the establishment of the State Library of Western Australia Foundation. Lindsay’s advocacy and financial contributions were instrumental in Lotterywest agreeing to be the major funder of two vital projects. In 2005, the Historical Records Rescue Consortium (HRRC) received a $3million grant from Lotterywest to preserve newspapers, photographic

10 negatives and films held in the Battye Library. A further Lotterywest grant of $800,000 in 2010 will see at least 7500 hours of oral history interviews preserved from the Battye Library’s world-class oral history collection, and 200 interviews made available through the State Library’s website. Typical of Lindsay, on the evening of celebrating the award and the reasons for it, he made a presentation to the Library Foundation of Directions for sailing to and from the East Indies, China, New Holland, Cape of Good Hope, and the interjacent ports: compiled chiefly from original journals at the East India House, and from journals and observations made during twenty-one years experience navigating in those seas by James Horsburgh, published in 1809. The State Library already held a copy of part 2 of the Horsburgh work published in 1811, which makes the addition of part 1 even more exciting. A special display prepared by Steve Howell showcased a few of the many items that have been added to the collections of the Battye Library, the State Library and the State Records Office through Lindsay’s generosity. His donations of important and valuable material include personal papers, photographs, published works, ephemera and maps. One was the diary of Augustus Hearn Gilbert, who was a crewman on the HMS Sulphur, which arrived in the Swan River colony on 8 June 1829 and stayed for three years. Besides details of the voyage, the diary, kept from 8 February to 11 September 1829, is one of the earliest records of life in the colony. In November 1831, with the Sulphur anchored in Princess Royal Harbour, Albany, Gilbert applied for land near Mt Clarence, but his plans to build a house there did not eventuate. It is known that he sailed on the Sulphur when it left for England in August 1832, but what happened to him after his return remains a mystery. The display included the Dutch Bravery Medal for Humane Action awarded to Laurence Nicholas Bruce which Lindsay donated in 2011. It was accompanied by two original documents and his research into the circumstances surrounding the award of 3 Dutch Bravery Medals for assistance to Dutch Nationals during the bombing of Broome on 3 March 1942. As a professional historian, Lindsay has researched and written authoritatively on World War II and on real estate development in Western Australia. He is particularly interested in military aviation, and has written numerous academic papers and two books on the history

11 and role of the armed forces. Some of this work was included in the display and was as varied as a conservation plan for the former RAAF motor transport garage and office at Cunderdin airfield, interpretations of a Kalumburu war diary 1942-1945, two centuries of American links with Western Australia, and a survey of World War II military aviation sites. Then there were samples from the Albany Observer newspaper archive, a collection of letters regarding the establishment of the newspaper, subscriptions and sales outlets, and general operations of the business which Lindsay purchased and donated in 2007. As we congratulate Lindsay Peet for this award we thank him again for so generously ensuring the enrichment of records of so many aspects of Western Australia’s past. Ronda Jamieson ______

News from the State Library Legal Deposit [The following email message was sent out by Margaret Allen to many of the State Library’s supporters. As the Friends of Battye Library Committee and individual members have lobbied for the enactment of legal deposit legislation a number of times over the last two decades, we take pleasure in reprinting her announcement here. Our congratulations to Ms Allen, the Hon John Day, and the many people involved in the drafting and passing of this important Act. Editor] I’m really pleased to announce that after almost 20 years without Legal Deposit legislation, WA now has comprehensive legislation to enable the State Library to collect WA’s documentary heritage including internet based documents with the passing of the Legal Deposit Act 2012. The Hon John Day, Minister for Culture and the Arts, issued a media release regarding the passing of the Act - the media release is at: http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=150135 This Act puts WA at the forefront of legal deposit in Australia with the Act specifically referencing electronic and internet based material. The working sections of the Act (Parts 2 and 3) will come into effect once

12 Regulations have been developed and approved – a process which is expected to take around 12 months. A copy of the Act can be found at: http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/bills.nsf/BillProgressPopup?openForm&Pa rentUNID=AC24A0425374659A48257943001DD792 I’d like to thank those groups and individuals who have been lobbying over a number of years for the return of legal deposit legislation in WA. Margaret Allen Chief Executive Officer and State Librarian

Friends of Battye Library digitisation Much of the John Septimus Roe material has now been digitised and will soon be available online. This includes his diaries, notebooks, logbooks and bearing logs, all of which will be now viewed in the comfort of your own home, providing you have a computer and access to the internet of course. Otherwise they can be seen on the State Library of Western Australia’s website at the Library. Many thanks are due to the Friends of Battye Library Inc. for their generous funding of the digitisation, making these valuable documents easily available to the world.

State Library Digitisation While the process of digitising photographs continues apace, several new projects are underway. The State Library’s townsite maps are gradually being digitised and all the Western Australian rare maps have been placed on the digitisation program. We are also planning to digitise all the State Library’s colourful and beautiful real estate plans. Once all these have been done there will be about 3,000 maps available online. We are also slowly working on the digitisation of Western Australian rare books and you may have noticed that some digitised copies have now been attached to the catalogue record.

New to Trove Becoming available soon on the National Library’s Trove website (see http://trove.nla.gov.au) of the nation’s digitised newspapers are the Southern Advertiser 1888 and the Coolgardie Miner 1911-1913, both of which were paid for by the Friends of Battye Library. Other titles which

13 are in the process of being digitised are the Kalgoorlie Miner, the Daily News, the Eastern Districts Chronicle, the Westralian Worker, the Great Southern Herald, the Bunbury Herald/Express, the Norseman Times, the South Western News and the Pilbara Goldfields News. Discussions are already under way for another ten newspaper titles to be put on the digitisation schedule for next year. It may be of interest for members to understand the process by which titles are chosen. Since digitisation is done from microfilm (the working negatives), it is important that the microfilm is of a good standard, so material which has been recently microfilmed (or re-microfilmed, if the original microfilm is not of a good standard) is preferred. [Editor’s Note: We have the Friends HRRC Project to thank for ensuring WA newspapers were microfilmed to the highest standard.] Another factor is the number of changes of title a newspaper has. In some cases a newspaper will change title five or six times over the course of its existence. In such cases the National Library counts each change of title as a separate title, so if we choose such a newspaper, it takes five or six of our allotted ten titles. We also try to give a reasonable spread of newspapers over as many areas and regions as we can. So the preference is for long runs of recently microfilmed or re-microfilmed newspapers, which do not change title and which are representative newspapers of important towns and regions throughout the State. You may also be wondering why the cut off date for digitisation is 1954. This is because in 2005 a copyright agreement was reached between Australia and the USA. In Australia, in general, copyright exists for 50 years after death or publication, in the US it is 70 years. The agreement moved Australia to 70 years, so rather than increase the length of copyright for material which was already out of copyright under existing Australian law, a ruling was made that all newspapers published before 1 January 1955 were out of copyright. Thus under the new legislation 1955 newspapers do not come out of copyright until 2025, 1956 until 2026 and so on.

David Whiteford Moves to State Records Office Many Friends and users of the Battye Library will be familiar with David Whiteford. David began at the State Library as a cadet, directly out of high school, in 1975. When he had completed his studies he started his career with the Battye Library and worked in many collections, most notably monographs, manuscripts and maps. His expertise and 14 knowledge of the collections were greatly valued by clients. In 2006 David took up a position overseeing the Archives Team, responsible for the management of the Library’s non-published collections. In July 2011, after a year on secondment to Redress WA, David came to the Client Services Directorate, where he headed projects relating to the Library’s document delivery service, Catalogue upgrade and the ‘Get It’ service. His experience and knowledge of all things Western Australian (especially anything connected with trains and railways) will be welcomed by the State Records Office. Steve Howell ______

State Records Office - News from the Archives Margaret Medcalf Award The 2012 Margaret Medcalf Award presentation took place at 9:30am on Wednesday 13 June 2012 in the State Library Theatrette. Justice: a history of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia by Fiona Skyring has been awarded the 2012 Margaret Medcalf Award. Hon. John Day MLA, Minister for Culture and the Arts, accompanied by Miss Margaret Medcalf OAM, presented the Award at a special ceremony on 13 June 2012. In presenting the Award to Dr Skyring, the Minister said Justice explores the history of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia from its beginnings in the early 1970s. “This book makes a significant contribution to increasing our understanding of the changes in criminal justice and policing, and to attitudes about racial discrimination and land rights that have occurred in recent times in Western Australia,” he said. “Dr Skyring has produced a fine research work, is accessible, and doesn’t shy away from examining the difficulties inherent in running an organisation devoted to Aboriginal justice in a complex political context. The judges decided this book situates the story of the Aboriginal Legal Service within the broader context of race relations in WA and the experiences and desires of Aboriginal people. The result is a major contribution to our understanding of WA history – it is a powerful work

15 and a compelling read.” Justice was published by UWA Publishing in 2011 A special commendation was also awarded to Dr Jeremy Martens for his book Government House and Western Australian Society 1829 – 2010 also published by UWA Publishing. The other nominated and short-listed works were Settlement to City : a history of the Armadale district and its people by Jennie and Bevan Carter, and The Marwicks of York by Bill Marwick.

Friends of Battye Library Digitisation Project The position for a short-term, part-time imaging technician has been filled by George Borzykowski who joined SRO on 19 March 2012. George has tested the equipment, and developed a set of procedures to streamline the process. Our first field book, John Forrest No. 3 Field book (WAS 32, cons 3401, FORJ/03), was digitised just in time to enable the original to go on loan to the Shire of Toodyay for their John Forrest exhibition. These images are now available at: http://aeon.sro.wa.gov.au/Investigator/ Details/Item_Detail.asp?Id=3356491&SearchPage=Item. We are now working through the field books by alphabet, so the next set of images relate to R.S Allen who surveyed Canning and Cockburn Sound in 1892.

ORDA (Online Retention and Disposal Application) The final development version has been installed and once system security arrangements are finalized the production version will be installed. An announcement regarding the launch of ORDA will be made in due course.

Sector Disposal Authority Program The SRO has developed three more Sector Disposal Authorities (SDA) covering a combined 21 government organisations for the legal disposal of the records of Port Authorities, Cemetery Boards and Student Guilds. These SDAs will be presented to the State Records Commission for approval in due course.

Training Government Officers The SRO delivered training at the Shire of Dardanup for 17 officers from nine regional Shires. The training was specifically tailored to meet the Recordkeeping and Retention and Disposal needs of the participants.

16 Personal Property Securities Act (Cth) 2009 The SRO has been liaising closely with the State Solicitor’s Office to ensure agencies are advised appropriately regarding the impact of this legislation on government organisations. The PPSA regime commenced operation on 30 January 2012 and established a nationally uniform set of rules for the grant and enforcement of “security interests” in what the PPSA defines as “personal property”. Records fall within the PPSA’s definition of “personal property”. Consequently, in considering the impact of the PPSA on their operations, SRO has advised agencies to take into account their dealings and contractual arrangements with respect to State records.

Public Programming Artists in Residence In partnership with Artsource, SRO hosted two artists in residence, Sohan Ariel Hayes and Benjamin Forster. During their four-week residency, the artists created a newly commissioned work titled WA 1828-1988: A luminary series of records played in parallel. The work was installed on the façade of the Art Gallery in the Perth Cultural Centre from 26 April to 13 May and also on the LED screen. This expanded cinema work was constructed utilising a diverse series of documents sourced from the State Records Office, ranging from reports of unidentified flying objects, extracts from field books by WA’s first explorers, court hearings on the treatment of indigenous peoples to unrealised building plans and archives about Paul Robeson’s time in WA.

National Trust WA Heritage Festival As part of the National Trust WA’s Heritage Festival the State Records Office displayed CY O’Connor’s suicide note and the Coroner’s inquest file at a public Lecture delivered by Professor Martyn Webb and Mike Lefroy on the evening of 2 May 2012 in the State Library Theatrette. The event proved highly popular.

SRO Lunchtime Seminars 2012 On Wednesday 18 April SRO staff member Tom Reynolds delivered a well-received talk on the topic: ‘Researching Colonial Secretary’s Office Records’. In celebration of NAIDOC week, on Wednesday 4 July 2012 Cindy Solonec will deliver a talk on the topic: ‘Coexistence and Family: researching the

17 archives in the SRO’. Wed 19 Sept - Lise Summers - The Year of the Farmer and archives in the SRO about agriculture. Wed 14 Nov - topic and speaker to be advised. Details of the program for SRO’s lunchtime seminars for the remainder of 2012 are available at http://www.sro.wa.gov.au/whatsnew/events.asp. Cathrin Cassarchis State Archivist State Records Office of Western Australia ______

Pioneers’ Memorial Service Under cloudy skies the 58th Annual Pioneers’ Memorial Service was held at St Bartholomew’s Chapel in East Perth Cemeteries on Sunday 27 May. Interestingly East Perth is not just a single cemetery, it is always referred to in the plural because it was gazetted as the site of the separate Church of England, Catholic, Protestant, and Chinese cemeteries. It was noted with approval that the National Trust, now responsible for these cemeteries, had provided additional benches for the comfort of waiting visitors. With glorious flowers from Margaret Medcalf’s garden as backdrop, Father Ted Doncaster led the service which this year honoured the Chipper family. The citation was given by Elizabeth Borrello who, with help from the family and some of our genealogists, produced a very interesting history of the family – from Chippers leap on 3 February 1832 to the two funeral service companies run by the brothers L-R Mr Chipper, Fr Ted Doncaster, Rob Kim and Don Chipper today. O’Connor. Photo courtesy Nick Drew. Attendance was a little disappointing, attributed to the clash with the AFL Derby between Fremantle and Perth, and to the fact we had had a graveside event to honour the Roe family just two weeks previously – which may have caused some confusion.

18 Nevertheless it was more than made up for by the magnificent singing of the 12 member Chapel Choir from St Georges Cathedral. Not only did they lead the singing, much to our organist Helen Edmonds delight, they also sang a Purcell Anthem “Thou knowest Lord the secrets of our hearts” under the direction of conductor Paul Sealey. Bountiful scones jam and cream awaited attendees afterwards at Gloucester Park, courtesy of the Western Australian Trotting Association. With some encouragement, Kim Chipper gave the audience a few anecdotes from his families history – so ending a very pleasant afternoon. Pamela Statham Drew ______

State Library Bookshop - discount for members The State Library has generously offered members of the Friends of Battye Library a 15% discount on new book purchases. To be eligible for the discount, members must show proof of name when making their purchases so staff can confirm that you are a current member. Please note that the discount does not apply to secondhand books sold in the bookshop, nor to the Friends of Battye Library publications which are sold at an already discounted rate. ______

New books by our members Dr Ann Hunter’s new book A different kind of ‘subject’: Colonial law in Aboriginal-European relations in nineteenth century Western Australia 1829-1861 has just been published by Australian Scholarly Publishing and is due to be launched in July 2012. This book “describes the approach taken by British and colonial governments towards Aboriginal–European relations in Western Australia. It focuses on British colonial law at a time when magistrates and judges were recruited from the among the settlers, before the establishment of the Supreme Court in 1861. Legalistic devices were used to deny Aboriginal people their rights, affecting the Noongar people in particular, on whose land the colonial invasion first occurred.” Ann is the Asst/Professor, Law Coordinator of the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of Western Australia. 19 Friends of Battye Library (Inc) Subscriptions form From 1 July to 30 June each year LIFE MEMBERSHIP $500 Annual Membership Ordinary $25 Joint $35 Concession (pensioner / full time student) $15 Corporate $50 Donation $______(Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible) I wish to apply for / renew membership: Name ______Organisation ______

Address ______

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(If you do not wish to receive emails from us, please tick here ) ------If paying by cheque, please print this form, complete it, and send with your cheque to: The Treasurer Friends of Battye Library PO Box 216, NORTHBRIDGE 6865 Or leave it in an envelope marked ‘Attention Treasurer, Friends of Battye Library’ at the State Library’s Security desk on the ground floor. If paying by electronic direct funds transfer, our details are: Account Name – Friends of Battye Library (Inc) Account Number – 4220 58413 : BSB Number – 016-185 In the payment description section, please type your initial and surname as well as ‘subs’ or ‘donation’ to ensure that your payment can be identified. We will still need your completed form for our records, so please return it either by post or as an attachment to an email to [email protected] with a note of your online payment.

If you require a receipt, please tick here  Thank you for your interest in the Friends of Battye Library, it is much appreciated.

20 Jack’s Back: A Family and a State After the Friends’ final meeting for the year last November, we enjoyed the customary catered dinner in the room adjoining and also a light hearted history quiz’ as set out on a sheet distributed to all present. In this, however, I was rather dismayed with the handling of question no. 3, viz: ‘Who was the first Premier of the state of Western Australia?’ We were offered a choice of Throssell, Leake, Forrest or Daglish. When the ‘correct’ answer was announced in due course, we learnt that Throssell was required here! I change tack now to say I have lately enjoyed reading the very attractive book that came out in 2009, On We Go: The Wittenoom Way: The Legacy of a Colonial Chaplain, the joint work of Jacqueline O’Brien (nee Wittenoom) and Dr Pamela Statham Drew. As the authors report on page 266, much was made in his own time of the fact that Sir Edward Wittenoom had served in Western Australia’s parliament under three constitutions - namely, under representative, responsible and federal governments. Introducing comparison with Sir John Forrest, they go on to say that Forrest served ‘in both representative and responsible governments but had never led or worked for a state government, as in 1901 he was elected to the Federal Parliament…’ The crucial word here is ‘state’, for officially the Australian states adopted their new designation when the Commonwealth was founded on 1st January 1901. I feel I must make an issue of this point. Forrest did in fact lead and work for a state government for some six weeks, for it was not until 13th February 1901 that he resigned the office of Premier. Rather remarkably, in the new Commonwealth government he had already been appointed successively Postmaster General (on 1st January) and Minister for Defence (on 17th January). Then, after resigning his seat of Bunbury in the State Parliament, on 29th March he won the seat of Swan in the first election for the Federal Parliament. Incidentally, the same experience was shared by the Premiers of New South Wales and Victoria. In its 416 pages, On We Go certainly presents a rich cavalcade of integrated family and colonial/state history spanning 180 years. A very readable text is generously complemented by useful maps and some 250 illustrations (of which 28 are attributed to the Battye Library). Another pleasing feature of the book’s structure is the way the family story leads it to focus in turn on distinctively different eras and very diverse regions of

21 Western Australia. Moreover, there is a nice little bonus in brief accounts of family ramifications and activity in England and Ireland. Heeding recent events of note, I now take it upon me to offer a double postscript to the whole story. So then, we can note that the first-named co-author and her husband, Dr Vincent O’Brien, had the honour of being hosts to the Queen at their racehorse-training and stud property when Her Majesty made her historic state visit to Ireland last year. On we go next from the international scene to the extra-terrestrial sphere. This involves Boolardy station, the pastoral property that was founded by the Wittenoom brothers in the 1870s and long continued the centre of the family’s vast empire in the Murchison district. It has just been announced that Boolardy will be one of three co-hosts for placement of the world’s largest radio telescope, the ‘Square Kilometre Array’. Surely that would cap it all nicely! Jack Honniball

Photograph of Sir John Forrest as Federal Government Treasurer c.1905.

(Image courtesy National Library of Australia.)

22 Membership Subscription (from 1 July to 30 June - GST inclusive)

Life membership $500

Annual membership Ordinary $25 Joint $35 Pensioner / student / junior $15 Corporate $50

Meetings General meetings are held each year in March, May, July, August or September (whenever is the Annual General Meeting) and November (also the end of year function). These are held at the State Library of Western Australia and usually begin at 5.00 pm for 5.30 pm and conclude before 7.00 pm.

Newsletter Published three times per year - March, July, and November (flyers will be sent out in May and September). Articles from members and supporters are very welcome and the deadline for copy for the newsletter is 10 February, 10 June, and 10 October each year. The editor reserves the right to accept or reject articles and notices for publication.

Contact details Friends of Battye Library website: http://www.friendsofbattyelibrary.org.au For comments, more information, membership forms, a copy of the Friends of Battye Library (Inc) Constitution, or to send articles and notices for the newsletter, please contact: The editor, Jennie Carter at [email protected] or write to: The President Friends of Battye Library (Inc) P O Box 216 Northbridge WA 6865 J S Battye Library of West Australian History Opening hours Mon/Thurs 9.00 am - 8.00 pm Friday 9.00 am - 5.30 pm Sat/Sun 10.00 am - 5.30 pm Public holidays - closed

Retrievals Every half hour during opening hours.

Telephone enquiries (08) 9427 3291 Fax enquiries (08) 9427 3256 Website www.slwa.wa.gov.au Email:[email protected]

Specialist staff: Dr Sarah McQuade (Battye Historian) (08) 9427 3165 Steve Howell (Senior Subject Specialist : Battye) (08) 9427 3476 Carmel McRobert (Subject Specialist : Battye) (08) 9427 3305

State Library shop: Mon/Fri 10.00 am-5.00 pm. Sat & Sun 12.00 noon-5.00 pm.

State Records Office

The SRO Search Room on the Ground Floor is open for enquiries and use of material on weekdays from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. A Researcher’s Ticket is required.

Retrievals Previous day Available 9.30 am 11.00 am Available 12.00 pm 1.00 pm Available 2.00 pm

Requests for use of Government archives in the Battye Library must be lodged at the State Records Office by 1.00 pm if required the same evening and by 1.00 pm on Friday if required on the weekend; for continued use of the material in this way, the requests must be renewed on each occasion they are required. Requests must also be submitted for after hours use of State Records Office microfilm.

Telephone (08) 9427 3360, website www.sro.wa.gov.au, email: [email protected]

The Genealogy Centre Opening hours - as per Battye Library opening hours.

Specialist staff for Family History:Tricia Fairweather ((08) 9427 3395), Leonie Hayes (08) 9427 3247. Email: [email protected]

Volunteers from the Western Australian Genealogical Society Inc. (WAGS) are available to assist researchers on Tues, Wed, & Thurs from 9.30 am to 1.00 pm. NO. 145 November 2012

ABN 571625138800 Our end of year function 2012

Richard Offen Heritage Buildings of Perth

The Perth Town Hall just after construction in 1870.

[Image Courtesy City of Perth http://hptrails. com.au]

Tuesday 20 November 2012 at 5.00pm for 5.30pm in the Great Southern Room, 4th floor State Library of Western Australia. The meeting will be followed by a catered dinner. Please see details on Page 3. Objectives The objectives of the Friends of Battye Library (Inc.) are to assist and pro- mote the interests of the J S Battye Library of West Australian History and the State Records Office, and of those activities of the Library Board of Western Australia concerned with the acquisition, preservation and use of archival and documentary materials.

Patron Mrs Ruth Reid AM Emeritus President Professor Geoffrey Bolton AO Committee (2011-2012) President Dr Pamela Statham Drew Vice President Mrs Gillian O’Mara Secretary position vacant Treasurer Mr Nick Drew Committee members Mr Graham Bown, Ms Jennie Carter, Mr Neil Foley, Dr Alison Gregg, Mr Jim Gregg, Mr Robert O’Connor QC, Dr Nonja Peters, and Dr Sue Summers.

Ex-Officio Mrs Margaret Allen (CEO & State Librarian) Ms Cathrin Cassarchis (State Archivist, SRO) Dr Sarah McQuade (Battye Historian)

Newsletter editor Ms Jennie Carter

Volunteers Ring (08) 9427 3266 or email: [email protected]

All correspondence to: The Secretary, PO Box 216, Northbridge WA 6865

ISSN 1035-8692

Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Friends of Battye Library Committee, the State Library of WA, or the State Records Office. End of year Meeting Tuesday 20 November 2012 Great Southern Room, 4th floor State Library of Western Australia 5pm for 5.30pm

Our speaker will be Richard Offen Executive Director, Heritage Perth Heritage buildings of Perth

Celebrate with us the end of another successful year for the Friends. After Richard’s talk, members and guest are invited to our end of year function which will be held in the dining room adjacent to the Great Southern Room. A catered two-course spit roast dinner will be served.

The total cost will be only $30 which includes red and white wine, and soft drinks.

Bookings are essential so please RSVP by 14 November 2012 to Nick Drew on 9384 8154 or by email at [email protected]. A lighthearted history quiz will also be run during the evening’s festivities and there will be a prize for the winning table. Contents About our speaker 4 Meeting dates for 2013 5 A message from our President 5 Problem with the stairs? Information for members 6 If any members have difficulty ‘Have you a story to tell? Fr Ted Doncaster 7 with taking the stairs to the Dr Steve Errington 9 fourth floor, please notify staff Bevan Carter 11 on either the ground floor News from the State Library 15 State Records Office - News from the Archives 19 reception desk or the Battye Obituaries Library desk on the 3rd floor Bill de Burgh 20 for access to the staff lift to the Lindsay Peet 21 Prof. Tom Stannage 22 fourth floor. AGM 2012 - President’s report 23 OHRRG update 25 Book review - by Rob O’Connor QC 26 York Archives building 27 Subscriptions form 29 ‘Jack’s Back’ - Jack Honniball 30 3 Heritage Perth Vision Statement: “A city where heritage places are respected, well conserved and maintained, with an informed and concerned community that values and celebrates its heritage for the contribution it makes to Perth’s ‘sense of place’. A community that works together to protect Perth’s irreplaceable heritage places through innovative and dynamic heritage projects that emphasise coordination, integration and managed change for the benefit of present and future generations. Heritage Perth’s Aim is to: Actively support the conservation and interpretation of Perth’s heritage, encouraging a culture that values and celebrates it.”

About our speaker “Richard Offen joined the staff of the UK National Trust in 1989 and from 1992 until 2003 was responsible for the Trust’s famous Neptune Coastline Campaign. Under his direction the campaign raised over £28 million, enabling the Trust to buy and protect 160 kilometres of the spectacular British coastline. Before being appointed Executive Director of Heritage Perth, Richard was a founding partner of the heritage consultancy Solutions for Heritage. Richard is a popular lecturer, has been a regular broadcaster on both radio and television and, in 1999, wrote and presented a 55 minute documentary video, Neptune’s Legacy, which charts the history of the UK National Trust’s most successful campaign. Richard was co-author of the National Richard Offen: Photo courtesy Trust book The Living Coast and wrote Heritage Perth. the extended captions for a book of aerial photographs of the British coast entitled Coastline UK. Richard can now be heard every Monday morning with Eoin Cameron on the ABC 720 Breakfast Show, where he talks about different aspects of the heritage of Perth and Western Australia.” [information about Heritage Perth and Richard Offen was supplied by http://heritageperth.com.au.]

4 General meeting dates for 2013 Our will be held in the Great Southern Room, 4th floor, State Library of Western Australia. These meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of the month (unless indicated) on the following dates and begin at 5.00pm for 5.30pm. 12 March - Film night - WA films from the Battye Library. 14 May - Speakers Dr Pamela Statham Drew and Jacqueline O’Brien. 10 September (AGM) - (SLWA & SRO) To be announced. 19 November - End of year function (to be held on the third Tuesday in November) ______A message from the President Dear Friends This month has been a sad one as we have lost long time supporter Lindsay Peet, and historian Tom Stannage – both at far too young an age. Shocks like these just serve to remind us that we must make the most of every opportunity! Earlier in August, we learned of the death of another one of our members, Bill de Burgh, just days before his 100th birthday. On page ? are short obituaries for these distinguished men who will all be much missed. On a more cheerful note we have acquired a new corporate member – the York Society - which many Friends will have bumped into sometime in the past. York has been well known for its jazz and other musical festivals as well as for its priceless old car rallies. Nick Drew has written a short piece in this newsletter about the Society and its new Archives building. Naomi Lam of the RSL WA project has announced that The 1940s and 1950s issues of the RSL WA publication, the Listening Post are now available online. The release includes all issues from the 1940s and 1950s and is available at www.rslcentenary.org.au. The next scheduled release will be on the 7th of December and include all issues from the 1960s and 1970s. Do remember that if you have anything special happening that might interest our members to let our newsletter editor Jennie Carter know about

5 it. She is always looking for copy and can be reached on bevnjen@gmail. com or by mail at our post box 216, Northbridge 6865. Our end of year function on 20 November promises to be a really good one as we have Richard Offen talking about old Perth buildings, which will bring back memories for many of us. This is to be followed by our end of year scrumptious roast dinner in staff dining room adjacent to the Great Southern Room - with prizes for our quiz winners. Do make a note in your diary and book early to avoid disappointment as the room can only seat 50 people. Your committee wishes you all a very happy safe and healthy festive season and looks forward to seeing you at our November function as well as the 12 March 2013 meeting. Pamela Statham Drew ______Information for our members An invitation The Returned & Services League of Australia (WA Branch) in association with the Cottesloe Sub Branch invites Friends of Battye Library members to hear Rob O’Connor QC deliver the Frederick Bell VC Memorial Lecture on Friday 9 November 2012 at 6pm for 6.30pm at the Cottesloe Civic Cenre War Memorial Hall. Rob will talk about York born World War One Victoria Cross winner, Lieutenant Lawrence Dominic McCarthy VC. The life and deeds of this gallant soldier are not widely known, but famous war correspondent, Charles Bean described his achievement as “next to that of Liet. Jacka at Posieres, was perhaps themost effective feat of individual fighting in the history of the AIF”. If you would like to attend this function, please contact Dr Neville Green at [email protected] or phone Sherilee at the Town of Cottesloe on 9285 5000.

New brochures With this edition of the Newsletter we have included two Friends of Battye Library (Inc) pamphlets. The first is an updated version of our general information pamphlet and the other is a specially produced ‘Gift-Bequest Brochure’. The Gift-Bequest leaflet outlines the various ways in which you can help enrich the collections of the J S Battye Library of West Australian History and the State Records Office of Western Australia. 6 Compiled with the legal expertise of Robert O’Connor QC, this brochure outlines the benefits to yourself and to the community by making a gift in your lifetime, and/or by leaving an asset or bequest in a Will. Rob has been very helpful in suggesting the appropriate wording for this purpose. Sue Summers. ______

Have you a story to tell? The following three articles have been kindly supplied by members Fr Ted Doncaster, Dr Steve Errington, and Bevan Carter. [The Rev. E (Fr. Ted) Doncaster was honoured by the Friends of Battye Library and awarded the Society’s ‘Gem of Time’ in 2008. He has written extensively on the history of the Anglican Church in Western Australia.]

A word from Fr. Ted (not the one on TV!) The question is asked sometimes: “how does a priest fill in his time?” Yet in retirement my question has been: “how does a priest find more time to fill in?” For after collecting historical facts, photos and ephemera for just over 60 years I have been busy trying to put everthing into order before I reach my “best before date”. It is the history of the Anglican Church in WA in which my interest has lain and this was aroused by Fr Arnold Fryer, sometime Rector of South Bunbury, and the late Mollie Lukis who rightly claimed she had known me in short pants! I have always been thankful for the encouragement these two lovely people gave me all those years ago. In recent times I have been busy putting together biographical sketches of my wife’s maternal great- grandfather, Archdeacon Barton- Parkes, and that incredible local saint and hero Canon Collick. The connecting link is that they were the first two Anglican priests to be Canon Edward Mallan Collick. Photo courtesy appointed to Coolgardie in the 1890s. Fr E Doncaster. 7 What would attract Collick, a young priest, happily at work in the slums of London, to a rough and tumble place like Coolgardie was in 1894? It was simply a newspaper advertisement: “Wanted - a priest for 10,000 miners” - he felt God’s call and responded. At the start Collick had no church building. His home was a tent with an earthen floor. He went down with fever within a few weeks. Yet he won over people’s hearts as he laboured on there for about three years, spending 30 years altogether in the Goldfields. He pioneered “Christmas treats” for the Indigenous people. One year his parishioners have him money for a holiday but he gaveit all away to the needy with the result that the next time, they sent the money on so he wouldn’t be able to hand it out. When it was announced in 1924 that he was going to Fremantle the locals were dismayed because for many of them in those days “going to Fremantle” meant “going to jail”. Collick spent his last quarter of a century as a working priest as Rector of St John’s Fremantle and had nine years in retirement before he died in 1959 at the age of 91. Barton-Parkes, another Englishman, came out to New Zealand as a young school teacher, met and married the love of his life and, after Ordination in 1883, served in three parishes before going to Queensland. Why go to New Zealand? And why Queensland? We don’t know. While Rector of Charters Towers he was invited to Kalgoorlie in 1896 but gave a definite “no”. Yet a few months later he accepted Coolgardie and was appointed Archdeacon of Coolgardie and the Southern Goldfields for good measure. Bishop Riley was so impressed with him that he thought he might become the first Bishop of the Goldfields but the Diocese of Kalgoorlie did not eventuate until 27 years later. The Archdeacon had moved on by then and died in Taiping in 1912. This all leads on to a third work which I have called: A Town with Five Churches - yes, Coolgardie has had five Anglican church buildings over the years. Two of which were Archdeacon F J Barton-Parkes. demolished by cyclones and one of which Photo courtesy Fr. E Doncaster. was thought might become a cathedral. the last church was erected in 1959 and given the

8 title: “The Canon Collick Memorial Church of St Andrew” but it no longer stands in Coolgardie for it has been re-erectred on private property down near Toodyay. I Think I hear our Editor saying “time genleman, please” so please spare a thought for these two clerical pioneers and for the now church-less Anglicans of Coolgardie. Fr. Edward (Ted) Doncaster ______[Since retiring as head of Curtin University’s Chemistry Department in 2009, Dr Steve Errington has been busy indulging his passion for WA history. Apart from his membership of the Friends of Battye Library and his research and writing, he is a member of the Royal WA Historical Society, the National Trust and the WA History Council. In his (clearly limited) spare time, he also volunteers as a Rottnest Island guide.]

A Tale of Roe In March 2011 I made my first visit to Garden Island where the eighty Parmelia people and a detachment of the 63rd regiment lived in the winter of 1829. I came away determined to learn more about what life was like in their temporary town. Happily, there were lots of eyewitness accounts. Captain Fremantle was in Cockburn Sound on the Challenger from May onwards and kept a detailed diary. Colonial secretary Peter Brown (later Broun) kept a brief official diary. Jane Currie kept a diary from July 8, the day she moved from the Parmelia to the island. Government storekeeper John Morgan wrote to a Welsh friend in August. Dr Alexander Collie wrote to his brother George in August and again in September when Lt Governor James Stirling wrote to his brother Walter. Captain Townsend Dance of the Sulphur wrote home to officials. Thanks to the generosity of my late, lamented friend Lindsay Peet the Battye Library also had the wonderfully informative diary kept by Augustus Gilbert, clerk on the latter ship. But from all these accounts surveyor-general John Septimus Roe and his wife Matilda are virtually and strangely absent. Yet he was the first to use Garden Island as an address when he wrote to the storekeeper on 7 June 1829 requesting a bell tent, stationery and mathematical instruments.

9 The Challenger was the first ship to leave the isolated colony, and when Captain Fremantle sailed off on August 28 he took mail to send on from Madras. There is no doubt that his mailbag would have included a long and detailed letter from Roe to his father in England. The Mitchell Library in Sydney has 200 of Roe’s letters finishing with one dated 21 February 1829 (updated March 10), of which the Battye Library has a copy. But letters from Cape Town and Garden Island cannot Lost in plain view. J S Roe’s field book 1A which tantalisingly mentions Garden Island in the list of be found. places covered. Courtesy WA Museum. It is possible that in June

1829 Roe was asked to make a quick survey of the Cliff Head/Sulphur Bay area of Garden Island and suggest how the temporary town should be laid out. Maybe he had made a quick sketch in a field book. Enquiries revealed that his early field books were missing. But by happy coincidence I found his Field Book No. 1A on display in the WA Museum – and the official label listed Garden Island among the areas covered. When history staff at the museum kindly retrieved it for me all I found was observations of the island made from the Sulphur The first rough town plan of Fremantle, out at sea in 1832. drawn by J S Roe However, all was not in August 1829. It shows High Street lost. Shane Burke of and Cliff Street Notre Dame University with ‘2’, ‘3’, and ‘4’ streets. Courtesy suggested I look at SROWA.

10 Alfred Hillman’s Field Book No.1 in the State Records Office because it is really Roe’s. There was no hoped-for plan of the temporary town - the first entry was made on 25 July 1829. That day Roe was taking soundings around the Parmelia with Government House on the island as one of his bearings. But in August we find him doing something very interesting. The first batch of private settlers had arrived on the Calista on the 5th and Roe is hastily sketching out the future shape of the town of Fremantle. He concentrated on the narrow neck between the landing place at the south beach and the north or ‘river’ beach. His first sketch shows Cliff Street parallel to the Arthur Head cliffs and High Street at right angles. He then drew in three more un-named streets stopping at the fort garrisoned by men of the 63rd. It is published here for the first time. As that TV advertisement says, ‘You don’t have to know what you are looking for, you just have to start looking.’ But some of us have to keep looking. Steve Errington [Note: Dr Errington’s paper on the 1829 Garden Island settlement will appear in the 2012 edition of Early Days.] ______

[Bevan Carter, at one time President of the WA Genealogical Society, has researched and written several works of WA history including the recently published Settlement to City: a history of the Armadale district and its people, which he co-authored with Jennie. His major family history Norfolk poacher to Northam farmer: the life, times, and descendants of Robert Carter and Phoebe Oxbury was published in 2007.

Finding your convict – UK Registers and Petitions Prison Commission Registers Descendants of those convicts transported to WA between 1850 and 1868 may often find valuable information about their English forbears from the registers of prisoners held in England’s national prisons. These registers frequently contain the names and addresses of next-of-kin and sometimes names of convicts’ visitors while in the English gaols, as well as other information not held elsewhere.

11 It has previously been believed that all relevant prison registers were microfilmed, along with other material relating to Australia held in the British National Archives, during the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP), and reels lodged in the Battye Library. When researching these reels, however, it becomes obvious that the series of prison registers is far from complete. Only the Portsmouth registers are intact for a period up to 1866, the other prison registers are either incomplete or missing altogether. The following prison registers are the only ones available on the AJCP reels in Battye Library: Millbank (only up to 1852), ref.PCom2/32, Reel 5976; Pentonville (only to 1854) ref.Pcom2/65, Reel 5978; Portsmouth (to 1866) ref.Pcom2/111, Reel 5984; and Portland PCom2/384 (1853) (Reel 5991). (Note: Indexes for these registers have been created by the Convict Interest Group, a sub-group of the Western Australian Genealogical Society (WAGS) and are available on microfiche at a number of libraries. These fiche are commonly referred to as the ‘PCom2 index’.)

At the British National Archives in Kew: digitising convict registers in the archives reading room in 2011. Photo courtesy Bevan Carter.

12 To fill in the gaps, on successive trips to England I photographed and digitised the rest of the registers from the above prisons that were relevant to WA’s convict era. In addition, I scanned records of Wakefield and Chatham prisons, both major penitentiaries where convicts sentenced to transportation were held. While Chatham had disappointingly poor records with little information, those for Wakefield were much better and contained valuable details. Convicts’ petitions to the British Home Office Another useful source for researchers studying convicts are the petitions people addressed to the Home Office requesting the sentences of convicted people to be reduced. None of these records have been copied as part of the AJCP project. The only way you can research these at present is by visiting the British National Archives in person. The cover of a second petition dated The petitions are archived in the records November 1858 from George Hobbs, series Home Office (HO) 17 & 18 and who had been transported to the Bermuda hulks in 1853. It reads: their dates range from around 1800 to “The Convict alleges that he took no 1854. Indexes exist for all these petitions part in the affray as he was rendered and can be found in HO19. While visiting helpless by the first shot fired by the Keepers, & prays a remission of the Archives I digitally photographed the stentence.” records HO19/11A, 11B, and 12 which George also protested his continuing cover the years from 1847 to 1854 and cruel incarceration in light of the fact contain the names of all prisoners who that Robert who was the leader of the gang of poachers, had not only requested their sentences be reduced.. received his ticket-of-leave, but was Unfortunately, after that date the petitions prospering in Western Australia. appear to have been lost or may possibly Robert’s wife and children joined him be scattered among various Home Office in 1859 and they farmed at Northam. George was finally released in 1862 documents and there are no indexes after his fifth petition and migrated to enable one to find them. I have yet with his mother to the USA. (Image to discover what caused the marked courtesy Bevan Carter)

13 deterioration in record keeping standards that are apparent in the Home Office records after 1854. Petitions were signed by neighbours, relatives and sometimes the convicts themselves. Having looked at a number of these petitions it is difficult to escape the conclusion that legal clerks routinely visited prisoners and persuaded them or their families to retain lawyers to petition on the convict’s behalf. Although this may have been a lucrative exercise for the lawyers, except for some recorded remissions of death sentences, very few petitions arguing for a reduction in sentence were successful. Of course, not all prisoners or their friends and family could afford or even have wished to go through the tortuous process of petitioning the Home Office to have their sentences reduced, so petitions for many convicts do not exist. Nevertheless, there are still a significant number of petitions and if you can establish that a convict you are researching did lodge one, then you are very fortunate indeed. Some of these petitions contain a wealth of detail about the circumstances of the crime and the personal life of the convict, much more than appears in contemporary newspaper accounts or court records. Many convicts had accomplices and the petitions of all members of a convicted group need to be examined to get most return from these documents. During the course of my research, I found my forebear Robert Carter was convicted in 1851, with three others, of assaulting a gamekeeper, and sentenced to transportation for life. I discovered only last year that he petitioned to have his life sentence reduced on the grounds that he and his accomplices were merely defending themselves from the assault of the gamekeepers on them. Among Robert’s petition papers is a response to the Home Office from the committing judge, William Erle, who believed the jury should have found all four guilty of assault with intent to murder, rather than only grievous bodily harm, so there was no way he would recommend that their sentences be reduced. The five petitions of Robert Carter’s comrade George Hobbs [see photograph and caption on previous page], who was wounded in the fracas, added much clarification to garbled reports found in the newspapers on the arrest and trial of the four poachers. I now have more material to add to any second printing of the family history. All the digital images I produced from my research in the UK are currently being uploaded to the Swan Genealogy website (http://www. swangenealogy.com.au) as well as to the WAGS computer system, so 14 that members can search online for the indexes. Copying all the petitions in full proved to be too onerous a task, but if anyone finds from the indexes I have done that their convict has a petition and are unable to visit Kew, you may be able to request a copy directly from the archives; please see http://www.nationalarchives.gov. uk/recordcopying, or contact me at [email protected]. Good hunting! Bevan Carter Historical Research & Publication Services ______

News from the State Library Legal Deposit For some years Western Australia was without legal deposit legislation, however the passage of the Legal Deposit Act in May 2012 brought Western Australia not only in line with the other Australian States, but extended the scope of legal deposit to ensure that publishing trends such as electronic publishing on the Internet were also included. Legal deposit is a legislative provision that requires producers of Western Australian publications to deposit copies in libraries, or similar institutions, to ensure the ongoing preservation of that State or Nation’s cultural heritage for future generations. These documents are catalogued, accessible and preserved for the future to underpin all forms of research into the history of the State. Many countries in the world have included some form of digital legal deposit in their legislation. In fact a survey of National Libraries by the British Library in 2009 identified only six countries that had not included digital legal deposit provisions, including Australia and the USA. Within Australia there has been some progress with the Federal Attorney- General and the Minister for the Arts announcing in March 2012, a public consultation on proposed reforms to Australia’s Copyright Act, to ensure that digital documents are kept by the National Library of Australia for future generations. Public submissions from this consultation have closed and we are awaiting further developments. While the Western Australian Legal Deposit Act has been passed, most of the Act’s provisions do not come into force until the relevant regulations are developed. These regulations will prescribe the detail on how legal 15 deposit will operate and the requirements as to which items are required to be deposited. Section 20 of the Act requires that consultation be undertaken with persons likely to be affected by the regulations, and this process has begun. It will be undertaken in two stages, with the regulations for physical items such as books, journals, maps, CDs and DVDs being developed first, and the regulations for digital publications on the Internet subsequently. The State Library has developed a discussion paper on possible elements in the regulations and has been discussing options with publishers, record companies, film producers, historical groups, government departments and archivists. This discussion paper is available on the Library’s website and the Library welcomes feedback from members of the public via a feedback form also available on the website http://www.slwa.wa.gov. au/about_us/legislation The Library will update people via the website on the results of the consultation and once regulations are developed, provide a further opportunity for feedback. Julie Ham Manager Policy & Research

Recent additions to the Battye Library collection. [Please note: while these items have been accepted, because of the process required to accession and catalogue them, some may not yet be available immediately for people to use. If you wish to research any of the items mentioned, please check the State Library’s catalogue under ‘Heritage Collections’ or speak to a member of staff.] The State Library has recently acquired a significant collection of the records of Robert Fairbairn (1841-1922) who was the Government Resident for Greenough, Toodyay, Albany, the Kimberley, Roebourne and Fremantle during his 50 years of public service in Western Australia. The collection comprises hundreds of items and includes diaries, letters, memoirs, maps, photographs, miniatures, drawings and sketches relating in large part to the Fairbairn and Bussell families. There is also a great deal of paraphernalia used or collected by Fairbairn, including his court dress and sword, carved fly whisk, a ceremonial mallet, Aboriginal artefacts and a carved ivory whale’s tooth (scrimshaw).

16 The library’s next challenge is to preserve and organise the collection to make it available for researchers. Other notable additions • Two letters of Jack Boland, prisoner at Rottnest Island (“Rotten Nest”), written to Michael Lonergan in 1912. In the first letter Jack is asking “My dear Mick” for two pounds to buy tobacco. In the second letter Jack thanks Mick for sending one pound but asks him not to mention this to the warden when he comes down to see him. He also informs Mick that he is now going by the Robert Fairbairn in Court dress. name of John Ryan. Photo courtesy State Library of • Papers of John Stanley Beard, WA forester and ecologist. His extensive surveys of Western Australia set standards for understanding regional floristic zones and biogeographical areas for the whole state. He was the main author of the 1964–1981 explanatory notes to the mapping project of the Vegetation Survey of Western Australia. He was also foundation Director of the Kings Park and Botanic Garden between 1961 and 1970 • Autograph album of Lily Ruffell, Parkerville Children’s Home, 1913-1919, containing beautiful sketches, paintings, poems, ephemera and other contributions from residents and staff at Parkerville. • Records of the Nyoongar Community Aboriginal Corporation (formerly known as the Lake Gnangara Aboriginal Community) including constitutions, correspondence, minutes, newsletters and reports, 1970-2008. The Aboriginal Community College was established by Betty Colbung, wife of community founder Ken Colbung, to provide an education to young Aboriginal people from outside the community as well as residents. • Records of Universal Brotherhood Inc. (UBI) including correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, oral histories and films from its inception in the early 1970s until 1994 when the name changed to Brooklands Community. These records will be of interest to researchers of new forms of religion in the twentieth century, both in Australia and internationally.

17 • Records of the Gibsone family, early settlers in the Harvey district, including correspondence and log books of Ken Gibsone (Irrigation Officer); photographs and lantern slides. • Six photographs of The Bungalow, Peppermint Grove, ca 1930. Home of Lieutenant General Sir Joseph John Talbot Hobbs, The Bungalow, at 38 Keane Street was designed by Talbot Hobbs in 1899 and demolished by Warren Anderson in 1990. • ‘Grey nomad’ travelling is a very popular contemporary phenomenon so for some current day ‘diary’ collecting, we have accepted the blog of a grey nomad couple – the Wattersons - who have for several years been travelling extensively all around Australia accompanied by their three dogs. • Marie Tuke has donated her pictorial memoir of her time in Woorooloo Santorium 1950 -1952. Marie Tuke (nee Cheeseman) arrived in Western Australia in 1950 as an 18 year old with her parents and siblings from England. Within three days of arrival in WA, she was hospitalised with tuberculosis. After leaving hospital, she spent two years recuperating at Wooroloo Sanatorium. This memoir is of her stay there and includes photographs showing the activities, many of them very happy scenes. Jean Chetkovich Collection Development ______

State Records Office - News from the Archives Friends of Battye Library Digitisation Project We are now working through the field books by alphabet, so the next set of images relate to R.S Allen who surveyed Canning and Cockburn Sound in 1892.

Geoffrey Bolton Lecture 2012 The SRO is delighted to announce that the Hon. Fred Chaney AO will be the speaker for the 2012 Geoffrey Bolton Lecture. Cathrin Cassarchis, State Archivist and Executive Director State Records, invites all members of the Friends of Battye Library to this special event.

18 Mr Chaney’s topic for the Lecture is: “Gold and dross – what is the value of the official record?” Mr Chaney is currently Chair of Desert Knowledge Australia; a former Federal Minister and Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, Chancellor of Murdoch University 1995-2003, Deputy President of the Native Title Tribunal 2000-2007 and Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia 2000-2005. Hon. Fred Chaney AO. (Photo courtesy Murdoch University) Venue: Government House Ballroom, St George’s Terrace, Perth Monday 12 November 2012 at 5.45pm for 6pm start This is a free event but numbers are limited. To secure your place RSVP (acceptances only) by 7 November 2012 to Birra-Li Cunningham at [email protected] or telephone 9427 3636

SRO Lunchtime Seminars 2012 Featuring a variety of topics, the SRO’s Lunchtime Seminars are designed to inform researchers about the SRO and the State Archives collection. Featuring guest speakers and SRO staff they also provide a forum for questions and discussions in a relaxed and friendly environment. Lunchtime seminars occur between 12.30 and 1.30pm on the day advertised and are held in the SRO’s South West Room, next to the Search Room Attendees are encouraged to bring their sandwiches and drinks to the Seminars. Tea and Coffee are provided. The remaining Lunchtime Seminar for 2012 will be held on: Wednesday 14 November 2012 - Speakers: Diana Pepper and Kirrilly Brentnall - Topic: Researching the State Archives for film and television. The Lunchtime Seminar program for 2013 is still under development.

19 Friends of the Battye Library are welcome to submit topics and ideas for Lunchtime Seminars for next year. Please contact Gerard Foley at [email protected] if you have a suggestion. Cathrin Cassarchis State Archivist ______Obituaries

William (Bill) de Burgh OAM, FRWAHS, Gem of Time Born 2 September 1912, died 27 August 2012 Bill was born in Guildford and farmed in the Shire of Gingin, becoming Chairman of the Gingin Road Board. He was always interested in poetry and history and wrote Neergabby (where the brook and river meet) : a history of the Moore River and Lower Gingin Brook, 1830 to 1960. which was published by the Shire of Gingin in 1976. After he and his wife retired to Perth in 1977, Bill pursued his interest in history having joined the Royal Western Australian Historical Society (RWAHS) in 1964. He was later elected to the National Trust of Western Australia. He was made a Fellow of the RWAHS in 1985 and became a member of the Friends of Battye Library. He was honoured by the Friends with our ‘Gem of Time’ award for 2006. In 2007, he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to the preservation of WA history and services to Local Government. Bill researched and wrote more than a dozen works on WA history and was highly respected, not only for his scholarship, but also for his gentle sense of humour, his courtesy, kindness and his capacity for hard work. William de Burgh c.1940. (Photo courtesy He died just under a week short of Bill’s family.) his 100th birthday, thereby missing all the family celebrations planned for the day. At his funeral it was remarked that he never liked fuss! 20 He is survived by his two children, five grandchildren and two great- grandchildren. Jennie Carter

Lindsay Peet, Gem of Time, Fellow of the Library Board of WA Born 5 October 1939, died 26 September 2012 Lindsay was born the only son of Cyril and Ethel Peet . Lindsay’s grandfather has established the well-known real estate firm of Peet and Co in the early 1890s. Lindsay was educated at Hale School and at the University of WA where he graduated with a degree in geology. While working in Kalgoorlie in the 1960s he met and married his wife, Laurel. On returning to Perth Lindsay joined the family firm where he worked until his retirement in 1985. Lindsay and Laurel had two sons, Nigel (dec.) and Julian. Lindsay’s particular historical interests were in military history and he wrote authoritatively on many aspects of Lindsay Peet. Photo courtesy Nick Drew. World War Two and aviation history generally. His most recent project was to collaborate on the production of a major film Shady Lady: Mission Accomplished, Running on Empty which has just been shown in the USA and is scheduled for release in both the UK and Australia shortly. The film has been assisted by Lindsay’s 1995 thesis on the story of the emergency landing of an American B-24 Liberator in the Kimberley where the crew were rescued by Aboriginal people and monks from the Drysdale River (now Kalumburu) Mission. He has been widely celebrated for his philanthropy. And he was a thoughtful giver – not just one who handed over a lump sum, but always looking to see where it could do most good. It was typical that he asked that his funds be used to seed further Lotterywest grants obtained by the Friends of Battye Library, and he liked being known as the ‘Private Donor’ in our applications. He was a key member of the ground-breaking Historical Records Rescue Consortium (HRRC) which did so much 21 to save WA newspapers, photographs and films and he continued his commitment to the Oral History Records Rescue Group (OHRRG) which is currently involved in preserving the Library’s oral histories. He was a generous supporter of the Battye Library and contributor to the State’s heritage collections over many years. Lindsay’s bravery over the last four years since he contracted a paralysing virus has been inspirational. He never complained – was always positive and cheerful in such frustrating and painful circumstances. I think this should be remembered even more than his generosity. A revered colleague and committee member of the Friends of Battye Library, we will all miss his cheerful voice and sage advice at our meetings and can be glad that through the tele-conference line he was able to join us so regularly. Lindsay was justifiably proud of his 2009 Gem of Time award, which was prominently displayed at his funeral service next to his Library Board Fellowship award. His passing will be mourned by many who shared his passion for WA history. Our sincere condolences to Laurel and Julian, Lindsay’s sisters and family. Jennie Carter & Pamela Statham Drew

Professor Charles Thomas (Tom) Stannage AM Born 14 March 1944, died 4 October 2012 The history community in WA was shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden death of one of Australia’s most gifted historians, Tom Stannage, at only 68 years of age. Tom was born in Subiaco, the second child and only son of the Rev. James Stannage and his wife Helen. His was a high achieving family as Tom’s sister, Miriam, was to become of WA’s notable artists. Tom grew up in Bassendean after his father was appointed to St Mark’s Anglican Church, and showed promise as a talented footballer, playing for Swan Districts during the 1960s. He retained a love of football for the rest of his life and was instrumental in the formation of the West Coast Eagles AFL team. While a student at the University of WA, Tom met his adored wife Maria and after he was awarded a MA in history, the couple lived in England while Tom completed his PhD at Cambridge University. They returned to Perth in 1971 where Tom took up a position as Professor of history at

22 UWA. He wrote thought-provoking histories including The people of Perth which was published in 1979 and which challenged some of the widely held assumptions about WA’s past. A brilliant scholar, an inspirational teacher and a tireless mentor, Tom will be very much missed by all who were privileged to know him. He was kindness itself to me while I was researching and writing the history of Bassendean, a suburb for which Tom always maintained a strong connection. He instilled in me as he did in so many others who were fortunate to have been taught by him, an enduring love of history and respect for the craft of writing about it. Among the many accolades he received over his career were his award as Member of the Order of Australia for services to the study of history and museum development in 1997. That year also he was the recipient of the inaugural Prime Minister’s Award for Australia’s University Teacher of the Year. He was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001. Tom is survived by Maria, his two “Professor Tom Stannage with the inaugural children Christopher and Kate, University Teacher of the Year award he won. and four grandchildren and our Picture: Bill Hatto/The West Australian” (Courtesy deepest sympathy to them and all the West Australian 5 October 2012) members of his family. Jennie Carter ______

Annual General Meeting 11 September 2012 Presidents Report [Note: the full report has been abridged for publication] Welcome to the Friends of Battye Library 30th Annual General Meeting. I am very pleased to report that the Lotterywest funded Oral History Rescue Project (OHRRG) headed by Project Manager Lee Blackford is proceeding very well and it looks as though we will well exceed the 23 targeted 7500 hours to be digitised. So far 5,381 hours of interviews have been digitised in the “at risk” category and another 2,827 hours digitised as part of the 200 voices online target. Kris Bizzaca chairs the OHRRG Committee, which comprises Jennie Carter , Ronda Jamieson, Heather Campbell and myself with Nick Drew as Treasurer. Another Lotterywest funded project overseen by the Friends in partnership with the National Trust was the East Perth Cemeteries Project. Thanks to Cherie Strickland and Lorraine Clarke of Swan Genealogy our part of project has now been acquitted with over 9000 individual burials located. The National Trust has now to pick up the baton to design and construct the website to carry all this information and make it fully searchable. It will be an invaluable research tool as as much evidence as can be established about each one of the pioneer burials has been included. Last year the State Record Office was the recipient of our Sholl Bequest funds with a project to digitise the Surveyors Field Books, and they have been able to report the completion of the first stage of this exciting task. At our last Committee Meeting we decided to extend funding to the SRO to continue this very worth while project. I think most Friends are aware that because Battye Library initially contained all Colonial Government archives – such as the convict records – and still did so when our society was fo unded, we have felt it important to continue to fund projects dealing with the colonial past now in the preserve of the State Record Office. As a result we have split the Sholl Bequest funding between the SRO and Battye Library on a bi-annual basis. 2013 Sholl funds will go to a Battye project yet to be determined. The last Battye project, digitising the WA Biographical Index cards is nearly complete – as you will hear a little later. Over the past year I have been representing the Friends on an advisory Board at the Returned Services League. The RSL received a Lotterywest grant to collect, preserve and make available (digitally) the minutes and memorabilia of RSL clubs through out the State. These are being placed on an interactive Map – like the State Library’s ‘Our page in history’. Part of the project is also to digitise the Listening Post – the major RSL magazine – and first issues – from the 1920’s and 30’s – ie pre WW2 were released online on the 3 August– the second lot for the 40’s and 50’s are planned to be released on October 15th and the last lot will be put on line in April next year. This will be great news for historians and genealogists as they are packed with names and places – just Google

24 “Listening Post”. The Committee are also planning a big Exhibition at the State Library to run from 19 April through to June 2013 as the wind-up of this project. They are being helped in this endeavour by Steve Howell and Doug George of the State Library. Your Committee has beavered away for several years to prod the Government into passing the WA Legal Deposit Act and we are very pleased that it has now been passed. [see article on p.15] Lastly I would like to sincerely thank your Committee Members for help and assistance during the year: Vice President Gillian O’Mara, Membership and Newsletter Editor Jennie Carter (who is always looking for articles or notes for the Newsletter) Treasurer Nick Drew, and members Graham Bown, Alison and Jim Gregg, Robert O’Connor QC, Nonja Peters, Sue Summers and Lindsay Peet. Pamela Statham Drew ______

Oral History Records Rescue Group (OHRRG) - progress report The Project to date has seen the digitisation of over 4322 oral histories for preservation and access. Seventy two interviews are now available online through the State Library ofWA’s catalogue. Examples include interviews with the artist Robert Juniper, talking not about his own work but his father’s connection to the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, and Walter Browne, co-founder of Browne’s Dairy. Here is a selection of some of the rich and diverse stories that have been preserved forall West Australians. • A photographer who was active in Fremantle in the 1920s and 1940s, later living in Kalgoorlie and the UK, was something of a jack-of-all- trades, involved in aerial photography for mining exploration, film-making, photo-journalism and writing, and running a photo shop, as well as studio photography.The interview provides Oral history digitisation studio. [Photo interesting descriptions of photographic courtesy SLWA]

25 techniques of other photographers operating in Perth and Fremantle, and of social changes during the period. It also includes a candid discussion of the business of studio photography, and why the interviewee “loathed photographing children”. • A physiotherapist from one of the earliest cohorts to be trained in Western Australia, in the 1950s worked largely providing services for disabled people, and was associated for many years with the Cerebral Palsy Association of WA. As well as providing therapy services, she later started sporting initiatives, which eventually led to supporting a number of Western Australians to compete in the Paralympic games which she also attended. The interview is particularly interesting for its coverage of the changing attitudes towards disabilities in Western Australia in the second half of the twentieth century – the interviewee’s perspective is all the more interesting because she herself is a polio survivor. • A long serving principal violinist of the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, who was appointed in 1939 (to the then Perth Symphony Orchestra) and remained in the role until 1976. His only break during this time, when he enlisted in Army Signals before being transferred to Army Education during the Second World War. The interview covers his life and music, musicians and conductors he has worked with, types of music and programs and venues. It also covers the evolution of the parochial Perth Symphony Orchestra to the world-class WASO. Lee Blackford: Project Manager: OHRRG ______

Book Review Western Australian Exploration 1836 – 1845 Hesperian Press with the Heritage Council of Western Australia have published this excellent volume, the second in a series, containing the letters, reports and journals of exploration and discovery in Western Australia in the decade 1836 – 1845. The editors are Dr Marion Hercock, Sheryl Milentis and Phil Bianchi of Western Australian Explorers Diaries Project. It is an essential reference book for anyone interested in the topic, whether as an expert or someone with only a general interest. The particular value of the volume is that it reproduces verbatim the

26 full original reports, letters and diaries of the expeditions of discovery in the relevant period, it being the case that many of these records from the State Records Office have never been presented in such an accessible form or with the summaries and explanatory notes which are now provided. There are 100 exploration reports by 41 different colonial writers. Each original exploration report now has added to it a boxed summary of the expedition, listing the participants, departure and finish dates and places, route outline, modern topographical map references and archival sources. Also included are detailed biographical notes on the settlers, Aborigines an surveyors who took part in the expeditions A worthwhile feature of the volume is that experts in the fields of geography, botany, zoology and Aboriginal history have prepared the introduction, plant and animal indexes and an essay to complement the explorers’ writings. Very usefully, there are indexes of people, places and a general index, all of which are cross-referenced. The most prolific writer is lawyer and journalist William Nairne Clark (1804 – 1854) with 10 exploration reports. Other well-known writers include Alfred Hillman, Henry Ommanney, George Fletcher Moore, George Grey and Marshall Waller Clifton. The number of dedicated WA volunteers who worked for some years in producing this marvellous volume is 23, with special contributors being Dr Ian Abbott, Professor Patrick Armstrong, Peter Bridge OAM, Kim Epton, Professor Alex George AM and Dr Neville Green AM. 460 pages. RRP $95. Available from phone 9362 5955, email: books @hesperianpress.com . Rob O’Connor QC

______York Society New Archives Recently the Friends of Battye Library welcomed the York Society as a new Corporate Member, with this we have some exciting news from the Archivist Julie Rae. For some years the York Archives have been housed in three buildings that were totally unsuitable with little security, temperature control, etc.

27 This will now change with the new Archive Building being built in the Sandalford Yard next to the York Society due to open soon. The new Archive Building received a grant from the Shire of York for $200,000 and $278,000 from Lotterywest, and is purpose built, with a Meeting room, which can be used, by local groups and researchers and computers and a New archives building at York WA. (Photo courtesy film reader. Nick Drew. Many researchers spend time in York, and more about the town of York is being revealed as different aspects of history are being published. Julie must be congratulated for all her work in getting this new Archive Building for York. At the moment her volunteers are carefully packing over 400 boxes in preparation for the move! Pamela Statham Drew ______State LibraryBookshop - discount for members The State Library has generously offered members of the Friends of Battye Library a 15% discount on new book purchases. To be eligible for the discount, members must show proof of name when making their purchases so staff can confirm that you are a current member. Please note that the discount does not apply to secondhand books sold in the bookshop, nor to the Friends of Battye Library publications which are sold at an already discounted rate.

28 Friends of Battye Library (Inc) Subscriptions form From 1 July to 30 June each year LIFE MEMBERSHIP $500 Annual Membership Ordinary $25 Joint $35 Concession (pensioner / full time student) $15 Corporate $50 Donation $______(Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible) I wish to apply for / renew membership: Name ______Organisation ______

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(If you do not wish to receive emails from us, please tick here ) ------If paying by cheque, please print this form, complete it, and send with your cheque to: The Treasurer Friends of Battye Library PO Box 216, NORTHBRIDGE 6865 Or leave it in an envelope marked ‘Attention Treasurer, Friends of Battye Library’ at the State Library’s Security desk on the ground floor. If paying by electronic direct funds transfer, our details are: Account Name – Friends of Battye Library (Inc) Account Number – 4220 58413 : BSB Number – 016-185 In the payment description section, please type your initial and surname as well as ‘subs’ or ‘donation’ to ensure that your payment can be identified. We will still need your completed form for our records, so please return it either by post or as an attachment to an email to [email protected] with a note of your online payment.

If you require a receipt, please tick here  Thank you for your interest in the Friends of Battye Library, it is much appreciated.

29 Jack’s Back: A Gem of Time and a Lasting Legacy In just these few words, I add my voice to the many others who have lately expressed fitting tribute to Bill de Burgh after such a long life so well led. It was a great privilege to have formed such a close friendship with him through our long association at the Battye Library and the Royal W.A. Historical Society. Bill’s lifestory and achievements have been well covered by Patrick Cornish in the obituary he wrote for The West Australian of 10th September last. One interesting point I learnt from it was that, of the dozen or so histories that Bill produced, his personal favourite was Despatch: A Tale of Two Penfriends (a bound typescript, 1998). This was his one piece that reflected only a little of his own local scene and intermittently, for it was assembled from the collection of 220 letters his mother had received from her lifelong correspondent in South Africa. As he worked on this fresh canvas, Bill must have enjoyed picturing unfamiliar rural- regional scenes (in eastern Cape Province) and a versatile family he never met, probably savouring comparisons and contrasts with his own home territory. On first thought, it may seem a calamity that Rachel de Burgh’s outgoing letters failed to survive in the long run. But in the wealth of other records he always had at hand, Bill had more than ample to draw on for the histories of his own family and locale. I made this wonderful collection of family records the subject of my column in our Newsletter no. 63 of May 1994, entitling it ‘The de Burgh Treasure Chest’. Right now, the news will be widely welcomed that the family has decided on offering most of these treasures to the Battye and the Histor ical Society as appropriate! ……. …… …… …… …… ......

Changing subject, and harking back to just our last Newsletter (July 2012), I here record my apology for a mistake I made in my piece dealing with the Wittenoom family history , On We Go. I subsequently learnt that Dr Vincent O’Brien had died shortly after his visit to Perth for the launch of the book in May 2009. So his widow Jacqueline was on her own as host to the Queen and Prince Philip in the relevant segment of their visit to Ireland last year. Jack Honniball

30 Membership Subscription (from 1 July to 30 June - GST inclusive)

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Meetings General meetings are held each year in March, May, July, August or September (whenever is the Annual General Meeting) and November (also the end of year function). These are held at the State Library of Western Australia and usually begin at 5.00 pm for 5.30 pm and conclude before 7.00 pm.

Newsletter Published three times per year - March, July, and November (flyers will be sent out in May and September). Articles from members and supporters are very welcome and the deadline for copy for the newsletter is 10 February, 10 June, and 10 October each year. The editor reserves the right to accept or reject articles and notices for publication.

Contact details Friends of Battye Library website: http://www.friendsofbattyelibrary.org.au For comments, more information, membership forms, a copy of the Friends of Battye Library (Inc) Constitution, or to send articles and notices for the newsletter, please contact: The editor, Jennie Carter at [email protected] or write to: The President Friends of Battye Library (Inc) P O Box 216 Northbridge WA 6865 J S Battye Library of West Australian History Opening hours Mon/Thurs 9.00 am - 8.00 pm Friday 9.00 am - 5.30 pm Sat/Sun 10.00 am - 5.30 pm Public holidays - closed

Retrievals Every half hour during opening hours.

Telephone enquiries (08) 9427 3291 Fax enquiries (08) 9427 3256 Website www.slwa.wa.gov.au Email:[email protected]

Specialist staff: Dr Sarah McQuade (Battye Historian) (08) 9427 3165 Steve Howell (Senior Subject Specialist : Battye) (08) 9427 3476

State Library shop: Mon/Fri 10.00 am-5.00 pm. Sat & Sun 12.00 noon-5.00 pm.

State Records Office

The SRO Search Room on the Ground Floor is open for enquiries and use of material on weekdays from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. A Researcher’s Ticket is required.

Retrievals Previous day Available 9.30 am 11.00 am Available 12.00 pm 1.00 pm Available 2.00 pm

Requests for use of Government archives in the Battye Library must be lodged at the State Records Office by 1.00 pm if required the same evening and by 1.00 pm on Friday if required on the weekend; for continued use of the material in this way, the requests must be renewed on each occasion they are required. Requests must also be submitted for after hours use of State Records Office microfilm.

Telephone (08) 9427 3360, website www.sro.wa.gov.au, email: [email protected]

The Genealogy Centre Opening hours - as per Battye Library opening hours.

Specialist staff for Family History:Tricia Fairweather ((08) 9427 3395), Leonie Hayes (08) 9427 3247. Email: [email protected]

Volunteers from the Western Australian Genealogical Society Inc. (WAGS) are available to assist researchers on Tues, Wed, & Thurs from 9.30 am to 1.00 pm.